The Hands of God Widows Support Initiative (HOGWIN), through its Widows Financial Inclusion (WiFIn) programme, has strengthened its commitment to helping widows build sustainable livelihoods with a recent agribusiness training organised for members of the Military Widows Association, Navy Branch, Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.
The training was delivered in partnership with Voda Farms, a woman-led agribusiness enterprise in Lagos committed to growing and delivering natural agricultural products from farm to table. The partnership provided participants with practical knowledge and entrepreneurship-focused guidance designed to help them understand agribusiness opportunities, develop viable businesses and participate more meaningfully in the agricultural value chain.
A key highlight of the program was the opportunity extended to some participants to access free business support and a credit line to start or scale their own agribusiness ventures. This support is intended to move the conversation beyond training by giving beneficiaries practical pathways to convert knowledge into income-generating and sustainable enterprises.
The WiFIn programme is built around a simple but transformative objective: to help move widows from dependency to economic productivity and sustainable livelihoods through business training, capacity development, entrepreneurship support and financial inclusion. HOGWIN believes that widows should not be viewed only through the lens of vulnerability, but also as women with skills, ideas, capabilities and the potential to contribute significantly to household and national economic development.
Speaking on the program, the Executive Director of HOGWIN, Phranklin Audu, said investing in widows should be understood not merely as social intervention, but as an economic development strategy and a practical response to gender exclusion.
“Investing in widows must be seen through the prisms of economic development and reducing the gender exclusion gaps. When widows are equipped with skills, access to finance and the opportunity to build sustainable businesses, we are not only improving individual livelihoods; we are strengthening families, communities and the wider economy. It is also a pathway towards advancing sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
He further called on well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations, government institutions, development partners and policymakers to support and partner with the WiFIn program, noting that with stronger collaboration and coordinated investment, the WiFIn model can be developed into a national strategy capable of reaching and transforming the lives of millions of widows across Nigeria.
Audu stated that the successful completion of the Navy Town training further demonstrates what can be achieved when community-based organisations, women-led enterprises and other stakeholders work together to create practical opportunities for economic empowerment.
“HOGWIN remains committed to building partnerships that enable more widows to become economically active, financially included and better positioned to create sustainable futures for themselves and their families,” he added.
Coordinator of the Military Widows Association (MIWA), Navy Town Branch, Mrs Helen Amodu, expressed her appreciation for the initiative and the practical value of the training.
“I am so happy and thankful to HOGWIN for bringing this special opportunity to us. I have personally learnt a lot and will take my home farming more seriously now. I am also glad that some of our members will benefit from the business grant and support from the organisation,” Amodu stated.
Mrs Asha, a participant, called for wider support for the WiFIn program, particularly from government and other stakeholders.
“I pray that more people and the government will partner with HOGWIN to support this work that they are doing to help widows. I enjoyed this training a lot, and I want to really thank HOGWIN for always doing programs that will help us,” she said.
The Hands of God Widows Support Initiative (HOGWIN) is committed to improving the well-being and economic resilience of widows through empowerment, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, capacity development, and a sustainable livelihood programme.