Sokoto State Government has assured more collaborative efforts with community based organizations, UN Women and other donor agencies on supporting widows on GBV prevention programmes.
Hajia Hauwa’u Umar-Jabo, the Director of Women in the state’s ministry of Women and Children Affairs made the remark during an awareness programme on Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention and commemoration of International Widows Day on Thursday in Bodinga local government area of Sokoto state.
Umar-Jabo said the event organized on June 23, 2025 was to raise awareness about the rights, challenges, and social stigma faced by widows, while advocating for their empowerment, inclusion, and overall well-being.
She said the gathering served as a platform for widows from diverse communities to share their experiences, amplify their voices, and call for social justice and equitable opportunities.
She emphasized the importance of gender-sensitive policies, the elimination of harmful traditional practices, and the promotion of sustainable economic empowerment for widows through skills development and access to resources.
According to her, this year’s theme was “Empowering Widows, Building Resilience, and Restoring Dignity,” targeted at advocating for the adoption and implementation of gender-sensitive laws and policies protecting widows’ rights.
Alh. Abubakar Alhaji. The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women and Children Affairs urged community groups, NGOs, institutions to promote economic empowerment through encouraging access to skills training, financial resources, and livelihood opportunities.
He further called for strengthen solidarity among widows and their communities to enhance resilience and mutual support.
Director Women also educated the participants on Sexual and Gender Based Violence/Violence Against Women and Girls (SGBV/VAWG), and Harmful Practices (HP) including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Early Child Marriage in various communities.
In her presentation, Mrs A’isha Muhammad, a Gender Specialist, emphasized the need for renewed calls for policy reforms to safeguard widows and their children’s rights, including equitable access to resources and opportunities.
Muhammad called for more collaboration among stakeholders on sustaining the progress made and facilitating more avenues for raising awareness, securing commitments and sustained efforts to translate advocacy into tangible improvements in the lives of widows.
The Newsmen reports that no fewer 50 widows attended the gathering and it featured discussions on widows rights, social inclusion, economic opportunities and empowerment as well as challenges.
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