Following the success of the first-ever African Widows Summit, held from June 20-22, 2024 in Zanzibar, a post-summit press conference was held on Saturday July 20 2024 in Lagos,

The press conference was aimed at providing a recap of the summit’s key outcomes and achievements as the summit addressed the challenges faced by widows across Africa. Organized by the Almanah Hope Foundation and the union of African Widows (AWGaDi) and inaugurated by Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar under the theme “Women in Widowhood: Reforming the African Space,” the summit had leaders, advocates and widows from over 10 African countries focused on widow inclusion, economic empowerment, and policy reform.

Keynote speakers included Ms. Prudence Nonkululeko Ngwenya, African Union Director of Women, Gender, and Youth, Dr. Auxillia C. Mnangagwa, First Lady of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Mariam Mwinyi 1st Lady of Zanzibar,
Pastor Dorcas Rigathi, Second Lady of Kenya among other former first ladies and women affairs/gender ministers. They emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to challenge practices that marginalize widows and advocate for policies that provide them with access to quality education, economic opportunities, and social support. The summit reiterated the need for change in mindsets to help widows transition from grief to a dignified life.

Hope Nwakwesi, President of the union of African Widows and the African Widows Summit stressed the need for governments to integrate widows into policy planning across various sectors. Addressing the press on one of the resolution of the summit on the definition of a widow, noting that widows are now being advanced to include a woman who was separated and divorced. The summit resolution is seeking the African continent to define who a widow is collectively

Ms. Nwakwesi emphasised the need for us as a body to stay focused on government’s role in empowerment of widows through providing economic, education, healthcare and structured financial solutions. She state that with financial services a widow can strive to surmount others challenges and abuses .

Esther Alaribe
news@wfm917.com
Women Radio 91.7