The Chinwe-Bode Akinwande (CBA) Foundation is set to host a landmark national conference titled “Empowering Widows in Nigeria: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Vulnerability” on October 9, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos. This transformative event aims to shine a light on the persistent challenges facing widows in Nigeria and chart a sustainable path toward their empowerment and inclusion.
Founded in 2015, the CBA Foundation is a registered not-for-profit organisation committed to uplifting underprivileged widows and their children through education, empowerment, advocacy, and welfare support. Over the past decade, the Foundation has become a beacon of hope — impacting more than 10,000 widows through capacity-building programmes and supporting 17,000 widows with health interventions, business start-up grants, food supplies, and counseling. Additionally, it has provided educational support and skill acquisition training to over 100 disadvantaged children.
A Platform for Change and Collective Action
Widowhood in Nigeria, particularly among women from marginalised backgrounds, often comes with devastating social and economic consequences — ranging from isolation and exploitation to systemic discrimination. Recognising these deep-rooted challenges, the CBA Foundation Conference seeks to create a safe and strategic platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among stakeholders in government, civil society, and the private sector.
Speaking ahead of the event, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, Founder of the CBA Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to transforming the lives of widows through practical empowerment and advocacy.
“Widows are often exploited because they are vulnerable. Our mission is to empower them through strategic partnerships, skills development, and capacity-building initiatives. This conference is a call to action — a platform for stakeholders to discuss, design, and implement solutions that will give widows a stronger voice and a fairer chance in society,” she stated.
Notable Speakers and Key Sessions
The event will feature a keynote address by Amina Oyagbola, Founder of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), who is renowned for her work in leadership development and gender inclusion.
A plenary session will be moderated by Hansatu Adegbite, Executive Director of Women in Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), bringing together thought leaders from across industries to discuss scalable empowerment strategies such as microfinance, skill acquisition, advocacy, and impact investing.
In addition to interactive panel discussions, the conference will showcase success stories from impact-driven initiatives, illustrating how targeted support and sustainable livelihoods can help break the cycle of dependency and vulnerability among widows.
A Call to Action
The CBA Foundation’s 2025 Widows Empowerment Conference underscores the urgency of building inclusive policies and support systems for widows in Nigeria. The Foundation calls on corporate organisations, policymakers, and individuals to collaborate in fostering an environment where widows can thrive — not merely survive — through education, entrepreneurship, and access to justice.
With the conference, the CBA Foundation continues its mission to restore dignity, security, and hope to widows, driving the national conversation on equity and empowerment for one of society’s most marginalised groups.
The CBA Foundation will host a landmark conference on October 9, 2025, at Eko Hotel, Lagos, to empower widows in Nigeria, addressing poverty and vulnerability through advocacy, skill development, and strategic partnerships.
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