By Zainab Oyekan
The office of the Plateau Governor’s Wiife, in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, has empowered 200 widows at a one-day training programme.
The Plateau Governor’s wife, Mrs Helen Mutfwang, on Friday in Jos, said the 200 widows, drawn from the 17 local government areas ( LGAs) of the state, benefited from the empowerment.
Mrs Mutfwang said the empowerment was part of activities lined up to commemorate the 2026 International Widow’s Day.
The governor’s wife explained that the empowerment of the widows, trained on household consumables, reflected the government’s commitment to restoring dignity, enhancing self-reliance, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods across Plateau.
She said the UN had designated the International Widows’ Day to highlight the challenges confronting widows globally, while promoting protection of their rights, dignity, welfare, and equal opportunities.
She stressed that the 2026 theme: “Justice, Dignity and Economic Power for Widows”, underscored ending harmful practices, protecting inheritance rights and promoting financial independence for widows.
The governor’s wife acknowledged widows’ resilience in spite of their many challenges and grief.
According to her, widows are raising children, supporting families, contributing economically, and serving communities amid enormous social and financial challenges.
She, however, expressed worry that many widows still suffered inheritance denial, property dispossession, harmful traditional practices, discrimination, and economic exclusion, describing such treatment as unacceptable in any just society.
Mrs Mutfwang said the Plateau government had, therefore, implemented interventions, including training of 800 widows on household consumables, empowering 500 through vocational programmes, and providing relief materials to vulnerable widows across the state.
She added that the government also provided ₦200,000 business recapitalisation grants to 400 widows while strengthening legal protection through the Plateau Gender and Equal Opportunities Commission against exploitation.
She urged the empowered widows to utilise their acquired skills productively, establish viable businesses, become financially independent, and contribute meaningfully to their families, communities, and state’s development.
She reaffirmed Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s commitment to inclusive governance, urging stakeholders to eliminate harmful practices against widows and ensure equal opportunities, dignity, justice, and hope for every widow.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Caroline Dafur, Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs, urged beneficiaries to utilise the training and cash grants judiciously to establish businesses, improve household incomes and become self-reliant.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), spoke with some of the beneficiaries who expressed appreciation for the support.
Mrs Charity Lugard , a mother of two children, thanked the Plateau Government for the empowerment, saying the training and cash grant would enable her to start a household products business and support her family.
Mrs Sarah Nandul described the programme as timely, saying the practical skills acquired would help her become financially independent, improve her family’s welfare, and create employment opportunities for others.
Mrs Salome Jurbe expressed appreciation to the governor’s wife, saying the training restored her confidence and hope, while the startup grant would help her build a sustainable business. NAN
