By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

For dozens of widows and vulnerable women in Kaduna State, the Family Homes Adashe Housing Estate in Rigachikun has evolved beyond a housing scheme into a lifeline, offering dignity, stability and a fresh start after years of hardship.

Six months after its commissioning, the estate is gradually overcoming its initial challenges, with occupancy increasing as fears over insecurity continue to subside.
Conceived to provide shelter for vulnerable women, particularly widows, the estate recorded slow relocation at the outset despite the allocation of 100 housing units to beneficiaries in late 2025.

Facility Manager, Dr. Mustapha Umar Kumshe, attributed the initial hesitation to perceived security threats and concerns over accessibility.

According to him, although the project was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by Governor Uba Sani and other dignitaries, many beneficiaries delayed moving in due to misinformation and safety concerns.
“Many beneficiaries were afraid to relocate because of what they heard. We had to engage them directly and provide reassurance,” Kumshe said.

He explained that management took proactive measures by strengthening security in the estate, deploying armed personnel, including vigilantes and civil defence officers, to safeguard residents.

The confidence built by early occupants, who lived in the estate without incident, has since encouraged others to relocate. Presently, over 65 of the 100 housing units are occupied, with more residents expected in the coming weeks.

Kumshe also disclosed that internal issues within the beneficiaries’ association contributed to the slow uptake, including cases where keys were allegedly withheld from rightful owners.
Management, he said, intervened by replacing locks, reissuing keys and restoring allocation documents, thereby resolving the disputes and enabling affected beneficiaries to take possession of their homes.

Beyond improved security, the estate boasts essential amenities such as potable water from multiple boreholes, electricity supported by a transformer and solar installations, as well as motorable access roads.

The housing project, implemented under the Adashe Women Housing and Empowerment Society, was launched in November 2025 to alleviate socio-economic hardship among widows.

Founder of the initiative, Dr. Umma Sani, said the project was inspired by personal experiences and executed in collaboration with agencies including the Family Homes Fund and NASENI.

For beneficiaries like Malama Fadila, the initiative has been life-changing. A trained nurse, she now renders basic healthcare services to fellow residents, symbolising the growing sense of community within the estate.

Other widows also shared how the gesture has positively impacted their lives, noting that they are contributing to the estate’s socio-economic development through skills transfer and community support initiatives.