By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The Caleb Danladi Foundation has launched a comprehensive financial literacy and economic empowerment initiative for widows as part of activities marking the 2026 International Widows Day.

Commemorating this year’s theme, “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems,” the Foundation highlighted the challenges faced by millions of widows across Nigeria, including economic hardship, social exclusion and limited access to financial resources despite their vital contributions to families and communities.

The Foundation announced that its Financial Literacy and Continuous Empowerment Programme for Widows will commence in July 2026. The initiative is designed to provide widows with practical financial management skills, entrepreneurship training, mentorship opportunities and access to sustainable income-generating ventures.

According to the Foundation, the programme was developed in response to the financial insecurity many widows experience after losing their spouses, often leaving them struggling to support their families and build a stable future.

Founder of the Foundation, Dr. Caleb Danladi, described widows as one of the most vulnerable and underserved groups in society, stressing the need for targeted interventions to improve their welfare.

“Behind every statistic is a woman struggling to provide for her family, educate her children and maintain her dignity in the face of immense challenges. Widows should not be invisible, and their problems should not remain invisible. Through this initiative, we are committed to helping widows move from vulnerability to self-reliance and from dependency to economic empowerment,” he said.

The Foundation stated that the programme aligns with its broader mission of promoting women’s economic empowerment, reducing poverty and fostering sustainable community development.

It noted that over the years, it has implemented several interventions aimed at supporting vulnerable women and children, including health insurance enrolment, educational assistance, digital literacy training and skills acquisition programmes.

The organisation further stressed that empowering widows is not only a social obligation but also a strategic investment in national development, noting that economically empowered women are better positioned to support their children’s education, improve household welfare and contribute meaningfully to local economies.

The Foundation called on development partners, donor agencies, corporate organisations, philanthropic bodies and individuals to support the initiative and help expand its reach across the country.

It also urged governments, civil society groups, community leaders and private sector stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring that widows receive the support, opportunities and recognition needed to live productive and dignified lives.

The Caleb Danladi Foundation is a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to improving the lives of vulnerable women, children and communities through interventions in education, healthcare, economic empowerment, leadership development, digital literacy and sustainable community development.