PAPADEF gives widows cash gift to mark 2025 IWD

PAPADEF gives widows cash gift to mark 2025 IWD

The Pa. Philip Akintoye Development Foundation (PAPADEF) has given cash support of N10,000 each to widows during a special church service in Lagos to mark this year’s International Widows Day.

The thanksgiving service was held on Sunday, June 22, at Act Baptist Church, Ogudu, where dozens of widows gathered in praise and prayer.

Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mr Akintoye Festus, said in a statement on Tuesday that the support was aimed at easing some financial burdens and showing widows that they are not alone.

“This gesture is our way of saying ‘we see you, we honour you, and we are with you.’ Widows carry a special kind of strength, and we want to stand by them not just with words, but with action,” he said.

He stressed that the N10,000 given to each widow was directly transferred to their bank accounts to ensure dignity and transparency.

Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs Abimbola Akinyemi and Mrs Oluwayemisi Oyarinde, were full of gratitude.

“I am so happy and thankful. This money will really help me buy food items I’ve been putting off. May God bless the foundation,”Abimbola said.

Mrs Oyarinde, holding back tears, said: “It’s not just the money. It’s the fact that someone remembers us and sees us. We feel loved again.”

The presiding Pastor of the church, Rev. Adejumo Martins, also thanked the foundation for the initiative, describing it as a true act of humanitarian service.

“We appreciate PAPADEF for this show of compassion. It is rare to see such consistency in caring for widows. May God continue to bless and enlarge this foundation,” he said.

Festus used the opportunity to call on the government, religious and traditional leaders, and community members to do more in supporting widows.

He listed five key areas for urgent attention: awareness, protection of rights, empowerment, celebration of widow resilience, and an end to stigma and harmful traditional practices.

He said, “International Widows Day should not be just a date on the calendar. It should be a call to action.”

He added that PAPADEF remains committed to standing with widows through emotional support, skills training, business mentoring, legal aid, and continuous advocacy.

“This N10,000 is just the beginning. We are building something bigger — a society that cares,” he said.

The event ended with prayers for the widows and a renewed pledge by the foundation to continue providing help where it matters most.

International Widows Day is marked globally on June 23 to draw attention to the struggles of widows and promote policies that support their welfare.