Lagos Government Empowers 733 Widows, Promises Greater Support for Economic Independence

The Lagos State Government has supported 733 widows through welfare and empowerment initiatives aimed at protecting their rights, improving their livelihoods and helping them achieve greater economic independence.

The intervention was announced during the state’s 2026 International Widows Day commemoration, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation in Lagos. The event was held under the theme, “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows.”

Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Bolaji Dada, said the government’s approach to supporting widows must go beyond financial assistance to include protection from discrimination, access to justice and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

“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,” Dada said.

She said the ministry had continued to implement programmes focused on skills development, grants, enterprise support and livelihood opportunities for women across Lagos State.

Dada highlighted the tuition-free Skills Acquisition Centres operating 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,” she said.

The commissioner also urged society to recognise widows for their abilities and contributions rather than defining them solely by the loss of their spouses.

“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,” Dada said.

She called for stronger cooperation among government agencies, civil society groups, communities and other stakeholders to protect widows from discrimination and harmful traditional practices.

Dada further urged the media to tell more stories highlighting the resilience, achievements and economic contributions of widows, rather than focusing only on the challenges they face.

She encouraged widows to take advantage of the state’s empowerment opportunities, stressing that difficult circumstances should not prevent them from pursuing their ambitions.

“Your circumstances may have changed, but your abilities and potential remain valuable. Do not allow your present situation to define your future,” she added.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Idayat Baiyewu expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Government and the ministry for sustaining programmes focused on the welfare and empowerment of widows.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Rianat Onigbanjo, said widows deserved opportunities that would safeguard their rights, rebuild their confidence and enable them to become economically self-reliant.

Onigbanjo described the welfare of widows as a collective responsibility involving government, families, communities, civil society organisations and the media. She also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for supporting programmes targeted at women and other vulnerable groups across Lagos State