Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Advocates for Widows’ Empowerment at African Widows Summit

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for urgent action to empower widows and restore their dignity across Africa. Speaking at the 2nd Edition of the African Widows Summit in Namibia, the Minister represented by Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO of Women Radio 91.7FM underscored the pressing challenges faced by widows, including limited access to economic opportunities, exclusion from decision-making processes, and entrenched social stigma.

Highlighting Nigeria’s leadership in advancing widow empowerment, the Minister presented ongoing government initiatives such as:

• WAVE Project: Empowering thousands of widows and female farmers through access to land, inputs, extension services, equipment, and markets.
• National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS): Delivering free healthcare coverage to widows.
• Adult Literacy and Functional Skills Programmes: Providing literacy and numeracy training for widows to improve self-reliance.
• Happy Woman App: A digital platform onboarding widows for empowerment opportunities and access to resources.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim further urged traditional and faith leaders to abolish harmful widowhood practices, called on governments to adopt inclusive policies, and appealed to citizens to reject stigma while embracing solidarity with widows.

“Empowering widows is not a favour but a duty, and restoring dignity is not optional but an obligation,” the Minister stressed. She reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to transforming widowhood from a place of vulnerability into a platform of strength, resilience, and empowerment.

The Minister concluded with a call for collective action, stressing that sustainable empowerment for widows requires collaboration between governments, communities, and civil society.