The management of Adashe Women Housing and Empowerment Society has presented keys to 100 widows for a 2-bedroom flat each, free of charge, to help reduce the socio-economic hardship many of them have faced after losing their breadwinners. The fully completed housing units come with Solar-powered energy, bore-hole water, furnished rooms, kitchen cabinets and cooking utensils, making the homes ready for immediate use.
The Founder and CEO of the Empowerment programme, Dr. Umma Sani, said her inspiration for the project came from her own childhood struggles. She explained that growing up as an orphan and repeatedly facing homelessness pushed her to support widows and orphans who go through similar pain. She said the project became possible through land she personally provided and partnerships with Family Homes Fund, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, NASENI.
The handover took place in Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where 100 beneficiaries received their keys and allocation letters. Sani said the project represents more than just a shelter. According to her, it offers stability and dignity to widows raising children without financial or emotional support. She added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as one of the flagship social housing projects aimed at improving lives.
She explained that the partnership with Family Homes Funds and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning played a major role in achieving the project at its current scale. She said, “Today, 100 women have been given more than a home; they have been given shelter, peace and a serene environment where they can raise their children. We collaborated with Family Homes Funds; they are wonderful people. Adashe Women Housing and Empowerment Society is the founder of the idea, but Family Homes partnered with us. The Ministry of Budget and Planning, under the Honourable Minister, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, also supported us, and that is how this project came to life. We give glory to God.”
Sani stressed that the housing scheme is only one part of a broader empowerment plan. She said widows also received starter packs and support materials to help them start small businesses and become self-reliant. She explained, “We empowered them with starter packs and even provided pens for them to begin their businesses. The idea is not just to give houses but to give them the tools to stand on their feet.”
She said she was pleased with the commitment displayed by the beneficiaries during their training sessions, noting that every widow successfully completed the process before receiving her key. “The widows completed their training successfully, and today they have collected their keys and allocation letters. It is a wonderful day for all of us. We are very happy and grateful,” she said.
According to Sani, the 100 housing units represent only a pilot phase of a much bigger national plan. She said the organisation is preparing to replicate similar projects in all 36 states of the federation. “This is the pilot project. We want to go around the 36 states of the Federation. Our goal is to ensure that widows and orphans across Nigeria can have a safe place to call home,” she said.
When asked what motivated her to pursue such an ambitious project, Sani became emotional as she shared personal memories from her childhood. She said she was the last of eleven children and that her family lived in constant fear of eviction because their income was unstable. She recalled how they were mocked and stigmatised over their inability to afford rent. She said, “There’s a history behind this. I was brought up as an orphan. I lost my dad when I was one year old. Growing up, the biggest challenge my family faced was housing. I am number 11 out of 11 children, the last born. I faced countless challenges. Many times, I would come back home from school and find our belongings thrown outside. The house would be locked because we couldn’t pay the monthly rent.”
A representative of the Kaduna State Government and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Housing Development, Shehu Salisu, said the state and federal governments remain committed to helping less privileged citizens access affordable housing. He encouraged the beneficiaries to take good care of the new homes, adding that proper maintenance would motivate the government to expand similar programs. “If the facility is properly maintained, it will encourage the government to do more,” he said. “The government will be encouraged to replicate this. Let’s live peacefully.”
Also present at the event was the Managing Director of Family Homes Funds Limited, Abdul Muktar, who urged beneficiaries to adopt a strong maintenance culture. He said housing is one of the most important human needs and should be protected. “We are quite sure you will maintain the facility,” he said. “We are happy to be here, courtesy of President Bola Tinubu and the Finance Minister and his counterpart in the Budget and Planning Ministry.”
Muktar explained that Family Homes Funds Limited is already executing similar social housing projects in other parts of the country, including Ibadan and Calabar. He said the Ibadan project focuses on supporting families of Nigeria’s fallen military heroes, while the Calabar project targets vulnerable communities.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Sarah Owojere, described receiving her new home as a major blessing. She said the intervention rescued her family from years of hardship and unsafe living conditions. Owojere, a widow and mother of four, said she had lived in an area prone to flooding and struggled to provide a safe environment for her children. She expressed deep appreciation, saying, “I am very happy and appreciative. God has really granted my heart desires because the house I’m living in is not really good.”
Owojere said the new home represents a new beginning for her family after many years of uncertainty. She said the intervention has given her hope and comfort, especially knowing her children now have a safe place to grow.
The event marked a significant moment for the widows and the community, showcasing a partnership model that combines government support, private collaboration and personal commitment to address the housing challenges faced by vulnerable groups.
