By Ibrahim Hassan-Wuyo

The Caleb Danladi Foundation has unveiled a Financial Literacy and Continuous Empowerment Programme for widows as part of activities marking the 2026 International Widows Day, with a renewed commitment to promoting economic independence among vulnerable women.

The programme, scheduled to commence in July 2026, is designed to equip widows with practical financial management skills, entrepreneurship training, mentorship and access to sustainable livelihood opportunities.

In a statement issued to commemorate this year’s International Widows Day, themed “Invisible Women, Invisible Problems,” the Foundation said millions of widows continue to face economic hardship, social exclusion, limited access to financial resources and inadequate support systems despite their critical role in supporting families and communities.

According to the Foundation, many widows are thrown into financial uncertainty following the death of their spouses and often lack the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to rebuild their lives and provide for their families.

Founder of the Foundation, Dr. Caleb Danladi, described widows as one of the most underserved groups in society, stressing the need for deliberate interventions to restore their dignity and improve their economic well-being.

“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 said the programme aligns with its broader mission of advancing women’s economic empowerment, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable community development.

It noted that it has implemented several interventions over the years to support vulnerable women and children, including economic empowerment initiatives, health insurance enrolment for disadvantaged women, educational assistance, digital literacy training and skills acquisition programmes.

The organisation maintained that empowering widows is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic investment in community development, noting that financially empowered women are better positioned to educate their children, improve household welfare and contribute to local economic growth.

As preparations for the July launch gather pace, the Foundation appealed to development partners, donor agencies, corporate organisations, philanthropic institutions and well-meaning individuals to support the initiative and help expand its reach.

It also called on governments, civil society organisations, community leaders and private sector stakeholders to collaborate in ensuring that widows receive the attention, support and opportunities they deserve.

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