The Lagos State Government has supported 733 widows through empowerment initiatives aimed at improving their welfare, protecting their rights, and creating sustainable livelihoods.
The intervention was announced on Wednesday during the 2026 International Widows Day event organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos. The programme had the theme, _“Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows”_.
According to a statement released by the state government on Friday, the event focused on expanding widows’ access to justice, protection from harmful practices, and economic opportunities.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, said government support for widows must go beyond sympathy and financial aid.
“Support for widows must go beyond sympathy. It must include access to justice, protection from discrimination and harmful practices, as well as opportunities that enable them to become economically independent,” she said.
Dada explained that the ministry has sustained support for women through skills acquisition, grants, enterprise support, and livelihood programmes.
She highlighted some of the interventions to include tuition-free Skills Acquisition Centres across the five IBILE divisions, the Micro Enterprise Support Initiative which provides productive equipment to entrepreneurs, and the Life Skills Economic Empowerment Programme.
“These interventions are guided by a simple principle: support should create opportunity, and opportunity should lead to greater self-reliance,” the commissioner added.
Dada urged society to see widows beyond their loss and recognise their potential.
“A widow should not be defined by her loss. She should be seen as a woman with abilities, experience, aspirations and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to her family and society,” she said.
She called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society organisations, communities and other stakeholders to protect widows from discrimination. She also urged the media to highlight widows’ resilience and achievements.
“The stories of widows should not only be told from the perspective of their challenges. We must also tell stories of their strength, enterprise, achievements and contributions to their families and communities,” she stated.
The commissioner encouraged widows to take advantage of state programmes, saying, “Your circumstances may have changed, but your abilities and potential remain valuable. Do not allow your present situation to define your future.”
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, Idayat Baiyewu thanked the government and the ministry for their continued support.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Rianat Onigbanjo, said widows deserve opportunities that protect their rights and restore their confidence.
She described support for widows as a shared responsibility involving government, families, communities, civil society and the media, and commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for backing programmes targeted at women and vulnerable groups.