The Chinwe Bode-Akinwande (CBA) Foundation has marked its 10th anniversary with a conference aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty for widows and vulnerable children across Nigeria.
The event, themed “Empowering Widows in Nigeria: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Vulnerability,” brought together government officials, development leaders, and private-sector partners at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos to develop long-term strategies for social and economic empowerment.
In her keynote address, Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of Women in Successful Careers, described widow empowerment as both “a moral obligation and a national priority.” She commended the foundation’s founder, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, for “turning compassion into a movement that restores dignity and hope for widows and their children,” adding, “Your work proves that one person’s vision can transform generations.”
Corporate partners also reaffirmed their commitment to the cause. Acharu Osime, Head of Internal Communications at FirstBank, said the bank’s collaboration aligns with its sustainability pillars of welfare, diversity, and financial inclusion. Representing DigitXplus, Head of Strategy Damilola Popoola described the event as “a celebration of resilience and dignity,” noting that empowerment “begins with dignity, and dignity grows when women are given a voice, a skill, and a chance to dream again.”
The founder of the CBA Foundation, Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, thanked partners and participants, reaffirming the organization’s mission to make widowhood a journey of strength rather than suffering. “We envision a Nigeria where widowhood is not a sentence to poverty but a pathway to resilience,” she said. “When we lift a widow, we lift her children, her community, and our nation.”
The conference also included a panel session moderated by communications strategist Jide Benson, featuring Etemore Glover, CEO of Impact Investors Foundation; Abiola Odanye, Head of Operations at Market Ranch; and Damilola Hassan, Managing Director of Meristem Trustees Limited.
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