By Sharon Akuboh, Abuja
The Society of Women in Security Services (SWS), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter, joins the global community in commemorating the 2026 International Widows Day and stands in solidarity with millions of widows whose strength, resilience and sacrifices continue to sustain families and communities despite enormous challenges.
International Widows Day offers an opportunity to draw attention to the realities faced by widows and to advocate for policies and actions that guarantee their rights, dignity, protection and economic empowerment.
Widowhood should never translate into poverty, exclusion, discrimination or abuse. Yet, many widows across Nigeria continue to face numerous challenges, including denial of inheritance rights, property grabbing, harmful traditional practices, social stigmatization, economic hardship and psychological trauma. These injustices often compound the pain of losing a spouse and leave many women struggling to rebuild their lives.
As an organization committed to promoting the welfare, security and empowerment of women, SWS FCT believes that widows deserve not pity but opportunities, not exclusion but inclusion, and not discrimination but justice.
The Chairperson of SWS FCT, Lib Mina Daniels, noted that widows remain invaluable contributors to society, serving as caregivers, entrepreneurs, professionals, community leaders and nation builders.
According to her, “Widows are among the strongest members of our society. Despite experiencing profound loss, many continue to provide for their families and contribute meaningfully to their communities. It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure that they are protected from abuse, empowered economically and treated with dignity and respect.”
SWS FCT calls for the full implementation and enforcement of all laws that protect widows from harmful widowhood practices, disinheritance, violence and discrimination. The association also urges traditional institutions, religious leaders, government agencies and community stakeholders to work together to eliminate customs and practices that violate the rights and dignity of widows.
The organization further advocates for targeted economic empowerment programmes, including skills acquisition, entrepreneurship support, access to grants, financial inclusion initiatives and social protection programmes that will enable widows to achieve financial independence and improve their quality of life.
Recognizing the emotional and psychological impact of widowhood, SWS FCT also calls for greater access to counselling, mental health support and community-based interventions to help widows navigate grief and rebuild confidence for a productive future.
In addition, government agencies are encouraged to generate accurate data on widows to facilitate evidence-based planning and the development of inclusive policies that address their specific needs and vulnerabilities.
As we mark this year’s International Widows Day, SWS FCT reaffirms its commitment to advocating for the rights, welfare and empowerment of widows and other vulnerable women across the Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria as a whole.
Let us work together to build a society where no woman suffers discrimination because she has lost her spouse; a society where every widow is treated with dignity, protected by law, empowered economically and given the opportunity to thrive.
Happy International Widows Day 2026.
This was contained in a statement signed by Lib Mina Daniels, Chairperson, SWS FCT and Princess Joy Omagha Idam, Secretary SWS FCT.
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