The Chinwe Bode-Akinwande (CBA) Foundation has renewed its advocacy for widows and vulnerable children in Nigeria, as it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a high-level conference dedicated to tackling poverty and vulnerability among women and their families.
In a statement released on Sunday, the foundation announced that the event, themed “Empowering Widows in Nigeria: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Vulnerability,” gathered government representatives, development partners, and private sector leaders at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, to explore sustainable solutions for economic and social empowerment.
Empowerment as a National Priority
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), emphasized that empowering widows should be seen as “a moral obligation and a national priority.”
She praised the foundation’s founder, Mrs. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, for transforming compassion into a force for change.
“Through the CBA Foundation, you’ve restored dignity, courage, and confidence to countless widows and children,” Oyagbola said. “Your work demonstrates how one person’s vision can transform generations.”
Corporate Support and Collaboration
The foundation’s partners also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting its mission.
L-R: Mrs Damilola Hassan, Board of Trustees member, CBA Foundation; Mrs Abiola Odanye, Chief Operating Officer, Market Ranch; Mr Olubobe Akinwande, Board of Trustees Member; Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, President/ Founder CBA Foundation; Mrs Amina Oyagbola, Founder Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) and Mrs Etemore Glover Chief Executive Officer, Impact Investors Foundation at the recently held CBA Foundation Conference. Photo credit: CBA
Acharu Osime, Head of Internal Communications at FirstBank, noted that the bank’s partnership with the CBA Foundation aligns with its core social responsibility goals.
“At FirstBank, we’re passionate about supporting platforms that empower individuals and drive inclusion. This conference aligns with our sustainability pillars on welfare, diversity, and financial inclusion,” she stated.
Similarly, Damilola Popoola, Head of Strategy at DigitXplus, described the event as “a celebration of resilience and dignity.”
“Empowerment begins with dignity — and dignity flourishes when women are given a voice, a skill, and a new chance to dream,” she added.
A Decade of Impact
In her remarks, Mrs. Chinwe Bode-Akinwande, Founder of the CBA Foundation, expressed gratitude to partners, speakers, and attendees for supporting the foundation’s vision over the past decade.
“We envision a Nigeria where widowhood is not a sentence to poverty but a journey of resilience,” she said. “When we lift a widow, we lift her children, her community, and ultimately our nation.”
The conference also featured a dynamic panel session moderated by communications strategist Jide Benson, with contributions from Etemore Glover, CEO of Impact Investors Foundation; Abiola Odanye, Head of Operations at Market Ranch; and Damilola Hassan, Managing Director of Meristem Trustees Limited.
Over the last ten years, the CBA Foundation has been at the forefront of empowering widows and vulnerable children through financial assistance, skill acquisition, healthcare support, and advocacy — continuing its mission to make widowhood a story of strength, not struggle.
