The Chinwe-Bode Akinwande (CBA) Foundation is set to host a landmark conference themed “Empowering Widows in Nigeria: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Vulnerability” on October 9, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos.
According to Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, founder of the CBA Foundation, the event aims to address the challenges faced by underprivileged widows across the country and explore practical strategies for their empowerment, including skill acquisition, microfinance, impact investing, and advocacy.
She said the initiative seeks to amplify the voices of widows and strengthen their social and economic positions through strategic partnerships and capacity-building programmes.
“Widows are often exploited because of their vulnerability. Our mission is to empower them through sustainable initiatives that restore dignity and hope. This conference will create a platform for stakeholders to share experiences, proffer solutions, and commit to implementing them,” Bode-Akinwande stated.
The conference will feature a keynote address by Amina Oyagbola, Founder of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), and a plenary session moderated by Hansatu Adegbite, Executive Director of Women in Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ). Participants will include representatives from civil society, government, academia, and the private sector.
According to the Foundation, the conference will also showcase success stories from impact-driven programmes and issue a call to action for collective engagement in supporting widows nationwide.
Since its establishment in 2015, the CBA Foundation has reached more than 10,000 widows through empowerment and capacity-building projects. It has also provided health interventions, food support, business start-up assistance, clothing, and counselling to over 17,000 widows, while more than 100 underprivileged children have benefited from tuition support and skill acquisition training.
