Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has empowered widows across six Area Councils of the FCT through Country Associates Network (CANET) Women Support Group.
In line with the Renewed Hope, Women Economic Empowerment Programme, 10 Widows across the six Area Councils of the FCT, received ₦50,000 in non-profit revolving loan.
This follows a N500,000.00 empowerment support, given by the Minister, to 17 beneficiary clusters during the International Widows Day Celebration, jointly hosted by Helpline Support Initiative and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in June 2025.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of Helpline Social Support Initiative, Dr Jummai Ahmadu charged the beneficiaries to ensure efficient utilisation and pay back, so that other batches could benefit.
“… as you are given the 50,000 Naira today, See it as a grant that you are going to pay. In paying back, you are empowering a woman that you are better off in businesses operations and management,” She charged.
While appreciating the Minister of Women Affairs for the innovative model of empowerment, she said that evaluators would avail the beneficiaries of business monitoring services and scale up advice.
“I want to thank the Minister of Women’s Affairs for bringing out this unique way of doing things. We are going to move across the 6 Area Councils. You have to ensure that it does not die with you, ” She stated.
She said the meeting is going to be periodic, with evaluators going around to evaluate the established businesses.
Ensure you meet periodically, if you have problems, advices will be given to you and do not ever ever underrate your capacity as a woman. You have more than you can imagine that you can do,” She said.
Ahmadu further charged:
“..I am charging us, CANET Women, because you have all what it takes to ensure that this non-profit revolving loan scheme does not end in Abuja. Please, as you are given this soft loan, no interest, please pay urgently so that others can also take like you. If you need to change a line of business, change it.”
CANET National Coordinator, Hajiya Safiya Muhammed in her remarks, appreciated the conveners for empowering grassroots women, noting that Abuja has set the pace for other States.
“I can’t thank you enough because you have given we the grassroots women, a place and a home to live.I have my little money, but not everybody has the idea to put it right but when you have somebody that is a mentor, that will hold your hand, pull you up, that is how we here are being prepared to face other women around the nation and around the world.”
She charged the beneficiaries; “Work hard, hard work always pays, if you work hard, you are going to achieve what you want”.
On the revolving soft loan, the National Coordinator said, “there is a soft loan for all of us here today. You all will be given up to 50,000, to pay back in three months. So, please, as you are given this soft loan, no interest, please pay on time so that others can also benefit from it. By the time you don’t pay, other women cannot get this benefit and that is not what CANET stands for.”
In demonstration of it’s commitment, CANET mobilised an additional ₦400,000 from friends and associates at the event and increased the number of beneficiaries to 18 widows.
Reactions and Commendations
Speaking to Voice of Nigeria, a Philanthropist and donor, Hajiya Aisha Lemu, congratulated the organisers of the programme, calling for continuity and sustainability; “This is what we are saying that we should always support each other in whatever we are doing.”
Princess Nikki Onyeri, another contributor while commending the Minister of Women Affairs said: “This is something that I think women have been waiting for all these years, where women are formed in clusters,given the initial loan, and then as they are paying, other people are getting the same support.”
A gender and conflict transformation expert, Dr. Dayo kusa rated the effort as excellent, unique and impactful.
Pay back
” I advise the women not to renege on the payback.If you renege once, it becomes more difficult. So, please, be true to the monthly payback.” She advised.
Mrs. Comfort Akua, the National Newsletter Editor of the National Council of Women Societies said the empowerment would impact national development positively.
“This will put more food on the tables of many homes and also make the women to have a voice in the society as the empowerment will give them a stepping stone to move forward and become the pillars of their homes,” she said.
Rekiya Idris, a Consultant Nutritionist, working with women, children, and adolescents, and donor, noted that most women are the base of the family and nation.
“When you are a widow, it’s very difficult to pick up yourself because there’s no support around you that you used to have in terms of your husband and that has been the basis of my trying to also put in my little bit to also empower the widows here today,” she said.
Pledging her technical support to CANET programmes and women, she said; “I would advise them that what they have now, they should make sure that they multiply it, save some, and also try and empower others within their community.It’s not very easy, it’s difficult, but with determination and commitment, they could do that.”
The empowerment support to 18 indigent widows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) aims to promote women’s participation in governance and leadership roles which is a testament to CANET’s dedication to championing women’s rights and development, aligning with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The targeted intervention is part of CANET’s broader vision to replicate this widows’ empowerment initiative across the 36 States of the Federation and foster economic resilience, social dignity, and sustainable livelihoods for widows who are often among the most vulnerable in society.
CANET’s leadership also reaffirmed commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda vision of driving inclusive development and promoting economic growth in Nigeria by empowering women and promoting their participation in leadership and governance.
Strategic partnership
CANET also lauded the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Honourable and Helpline Support Initiative for their strategic partnership and support, which continues to catalyse real impact in communities.
The presentation of revolving soft loan to 18 widows was also a testament of the impact of CANET’s work, as the women, empowered by the support pledged to build better lives for themselves and their families.
The FCT State Executive and Executives of the 6 area Councils of the Country Associates Network Women Support Group were also inaugurated at the event.
Lateefah Ibrahim