The Lagos State Government has provided financial assistance to 750 widows, disbursing N50,000 each through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).
Commissioner Bolaji Dada announced the support during a programme held on Monday to mark the 2025 International Widows’ Day.
She said the initiative underscores the state’s commitment to supporting vulnerable women and reaffirmed zero tolerance for violence against widows.
According to her, WAPA has translated the vision of the Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration into tangible programmes that have transformed lives through measurable impact.
The commissioner said initiatives such as the Livelihood Economic Empowerment Programme (LEEP), the Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative, and other empowerment programmes organised by the ministry have helped alleviate the plight of widows.
She said: “Today is an opportunity for us to reflect, uplift, and recommit to the welfare and dignity of widows in Lagos State.
“The Lagos State Government continues to pursue a governance model that places a premium on inclusiveness, compassion and empowerment.
“Through targeted initiatives, widows are empowered with practical, marketable skills in trades such as catering, hairdressing, fashion design, tie and dye, and soap making.
“We are proud to say that many widows have immensely benefited from this program, and more continue to enroll. Upon completion, participants are supported with start-up kits, ensuring that training is not an end, but the beginning of a sustainable livelihood.
“We also recognise that widowhood comes with emotional trauma, legal vulnerabilities, and social exclusion.
“This is why WAPA continues to offer psychosocial counseling and legal advisory services through our Family Social Services and Domestic Violence Unit.”
She explained that the beneficiaries of the cash gift were selected from a social register, NGO-focused groups, and widows who registered with WAPA.
Dada said WAPA would continue championing advocacy against cultural and structural discrimination against widows, advocating for laws and systems that uphold their rights and dignity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that International Widows’ Day, marked every June 23, is dedicated to women who suffer exploitation, deprivation, and persecution as a result of their husbands’ demise.
