On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the Pa Philip Akintoye Development Foundation (PAPADEF) marked the 2026 International Widows’ Day with a programme at the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, bringing together over 150 widows drawn from wards across the local government for a day of empowerment training, health screening and practical support.
Held under the theme Empowering Widows, Restoring Dignity and Renewing Hope, the event also became a platform for advocacy, as the Foundation called on the Federal Government to enact legislation and establish a dedicated agency to safeguard the rights, welfare and inheritance of widows across Nigeria.
A call for legal protection
Speaking at the event, PAPADEF Founder and Convener, Comrade Akintoye K.F., WPA, decried the neglect, discrimination and unlawful dispossession that many widows face after the death of a husband.
“One of the core mandates of PAPADEF is to care for widows, and today we are commemorating the 2026 International Widows’ Day,” he said. “Part of our activities includes training them on entrepreneurship, different business opportunities they can venture into, and how to achieve financial independence.”
He pointed to the cultural practices that leave widows exposed. “In Africa, after a woman loses her husband, she is often rejected and driven out of her home. In some cases, the family of the deceased seizes his property. That is why we are calling on the government to legislate laws to protect widows so that their inheritance cannot be taken over by relatives. This is one of our key advocacy areas, and we will continue to push until the government enacts such a law.”
Panel sessions on rights, finance and livelihoods
At the centre of the programme was an interactive panel session structured around three areas of concern for widows in the community:
- Socio-economic challenges, legal rights, economic opportunities and livelihood support for widows — led by Prof. Onyeka Jaivbo-Ojigbo, WPA
- Financial literacy and empowerment — led by Chief Dr Felicia Fatimat Oluwaseun Olawale-Hassan, the Otun Iyalode of Ado-Odo Kingdom
- Building sustainable livelihoods through entrepreneurship and cooperative growth — led by Mrs Salako-Badejo, Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory Agency
In her keynote address, Prof. Onyeka Jaivbo-Ojigbo encouraged the widows not to dwell on the past, urging them to embrace the future in the belief that they still have opportunities to live meaningful and productive lives.
Health screening and economic support
As part of the commemoration, PAPADEF provided a free medical outreach and distributed cash gifts, foodstuffs and other relief materials to participants, alongside SME grants and empowerment support.
Speaking after the outreach, Dr Grace Balogun disclosed that most of the widows screened, aged between 45 and 80, were found to have hypertension. She urged the children and relatives of widows to prioritise their health and ensure they undergo regular medical check-ups.
Royal fathers and dignitaries in attendance
The event drew significant traditional and civic representation. Royal fathers of the day were Oba Olusola Idris Adebowale Lamidi-Osolo, Otenibotemole II, Olofin Adimula Odua Ado Odo Kingdom, and Oba (Prof.) Adeyemi Abdulkabir Ohalanlege, Lanlege Ekun II, the Olota of Ota Kingdom.
Hon. Jimoh Olugbele MHR served as Chief Host, with Alhaja Abisola Arobola, Chief Executive Officer of Arobola Petroleum, as Mother of the Day and Alhaji Chief Gbayega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) as Father of the Day. Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, was Special Guest of Honour, with Senator Solomon Adeola Yayi, FCA, as Patron, Hon. Dr Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, as Chairman, and Deaconess Alaba Solaudi Akintoye as Matron of the Day. Proceedings were anchored by Asake Oleku as Master of Ceremonies.
The Chairman of the occasion commended the Foundation for its humanitarian interventions, noting that its work extends beyond widows to other vulnerable groups — including boreholes provided to health facilities facing water shortages, scholarships for those in need, and a range of other empowerment programmes.
Awards and recognition
In recognition of outstanding leadership, humanitarian service, advocacy and commitment to widow empowerment, PAPADEF honoured several distinguished Nigerians. Awardees included Dr Danthoso Mahmud Abubakar, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority; Hon. Dr Kayode Opeifa, Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation; Dr Muritala Adeleke Ibrahim; Chief Alhaja Onimole Omotayo Oyejola; Mr Gofwan Victor; Alhaji Kamorudeen Olawale Yusuf (Kamosky), Personal Assistant to the President on Special Duties; Alhaji Rabiu Dambatta; Hon. Musefiu Lamidi Ebe; Comrade Akin Bodunde; Alhaja Abisola Arobola; and Deaconess Alaba Solaudi Akintoye.
Continuing the mandate
International Widows’ Day is observed globally each year to draw attention to the plight of widows and promote the support systems that restore their hope and dignity.
For PAPADEF, the commemoration sits within a wider mandate carried forward in memory of the late Pa Philip Akintoye — providing succour to the less privileged through borehole provision, school renovation, scholarships, disability advocacy and empowerment programmes across Ogun State and beyond.
To support this work, visit our donation page or contact us to learn more about partnering with the Foundation.