The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended fresh hope to widows and vulnerable women by distributing business equipment and cash grants to help them overcome financial hardship and build sustainable livelihoods.
The empowerment exercise took place on Tuesday in Abuja during the official commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Widows and Vulnerable Women. The initiative, implemented by the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, was designed to promote economic self-reliance, reduce poverty and create opportunities for disadvantaged women to improve their living conditions.
Under the programme, 20 women received sewing machines, another 20 were given grinding machines, 20 received hair dryers, while 10 beneficiaries received refrigerators. In addition, 20 women were presented with cash grants of ₦50,000 each to strengthen their small businesses.
Speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat, Hajiya Asma’u Mukhtar, said the intervention demonstrated the administration’s commitment to helping women overcome financial difficulties and achieve greater independence.
Mukhtar explained that widowhood often brings emotional pain alongside economic challenges, including the responsibility of raising children alone, inheritance difficulties and discrimination. She stressed that vulnerable women needed practical support, protection and opportunities rather than sympathy alone.
She also directed the secretariat’s directors and staff to ensure that future interventions reached women in rural communities across the FCT’s six area councils. She urged beneficiaries to use their equipment responsibly and avoid selling the items for quick cash, emphasising that the resources were intended to improve their livelihoods.
Earlier, the Deputy Director of the Women Development Department, Mrs Aina Sani, said empowering vulnerable women was a shared responsibility involving government, families and communities. She noted that some women experienced severe financial difficulties even when their spouses were alive, making broader support necessary.
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For beneficiaries, the initiative offered more than equipment; it opened new possibilities for earning an income and supporting their families.
Mrs Hope Ochei, a mother of three who received a refrigerator, said the support would improve her local beverage business, where she produces Zobo and tiger nut drinks. With her existing freezer no longer working properly, she explained that the new refrigerator would help her serve customers chilled drinks and improve her business.
Ochei also highlighted the social benefits of empowerment programmes, noting that women who had experienced difficult circumstances could regain confidence, overcome isolation and make their voices heard.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Dorcas Ends, a mother of four, expressed excitement over receiving a grinding machine, which she plans to use to grind tomatoes, pepper, beans and other food items for customers. She said the equipment would help her earn money, save and meet her family’s needs.
Similarly, Mrs Hauwa Usman, who received a sewing machine, commended the secretariat, expressing confidence that the equipment would transform her household’s economic circumstances.
The initiative highlights how targeted support can help women turn practical resources into income-generating opportunities. By equipping beneficiaries with tools suited to different trades, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat aims to strengthen financial independence, promote inclusion and help vulnerable households work towards a more secure future.
