Pan African Widows

14/08/2026

International Widows Day '26 Conference at the House of London

PAWGADI begins a Decade of Action for Justice, Dignity, Leadership and Economic Empowerment for Widows in Africa

03/08/2026

Charity provides relief but does not create transformation....

03/08/2026

The Loomba Foundation, in association with PAWGADI, had convened the summit on June 23 to commemorate International Widows Day, the landmark event bringing together parliamentarians,....
TheCable

Participating in the International Widows' Rights Summit and Diplomatic Gala Dinner in London recently by the Pan-African Widows Growth

27/07/2026

Economic Empowerment is not charity....

22/07/2026

Yes, the circumstances of widows has not improved nearly enough because widows participation in decisions and actions are very limited...

With Pan-African Widows more widows will be captured, included and empowered...

21/07/2026

This evening I would particularly like to recognise the women represented here by AWGADI and by widows' organisations around the world.

Your voices matter.
Your experiences matter.
Your leadership matters.

And no conversation about widows should take place without widows themselves helping to shape the solutions...... Cherie Blair CBE

International Widows Day 2026

20/07/2026

Strengthening AWGADI Through Robust Legal Governance

As part of AWGADI's commitment to building a strong, transparent, and sustainable continental institution, the President and Executive Director, Hope Nwakwesi today, 20 July 2026, held a strategic working lunch with the Organisation's Legal Secretary, Barr. Omotara Aisida Tara Martins Aisida , to strengthen AWGADI's legal and governance framework.

The meeting focused on developing a robust legal structure to support AWGADI's expansion across Africa while ensuring compliance, accountability, institutional integrity, and adherence to international standards of nonprofit governance.

A major outcome of the meeting was the decision to strengthen the Office of the Legal Secretary through the establishment of Assistant Legal Secretaries with a regional framework, reinforcing AWGADI's commitment to inclusive leadership, shared responsibility, succession planning, and volunteer opportunities for legal professionals across Africa.

The expanded legal team will support the Organisation by providing legal advice, ensuring constitutional and regulatory compliance, drafting and reviewing legal instruments, supporting the establishment of Regional and National Chapters, strengthening governance systems, protecting AWGADI's intellectual property, advancing policy and legal advocacy, and providing legal guidance across the Organisation.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr. Hope Nwakwesi stated:

Our vision is to build an organisation that will stand the test of time, one founded on integrity, accountability, and the rule of law. Strengthening our legal governance is essential to protecting the Organisation and advancing justice, dignity, and economic empowerment for widows across Africa.

Barr. Omotara Aisida welcomed the ongoing constitutional reforms and reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the Organisation with sound legal guidance as AWGADI prepares for the establishment of Regional and National Chapters across the continent.

Together, AWGADI is building a united, accountable, and legally resilient movement for widows across Africa.

20/07/2026

Lunched 2005 in River Room House of Lords by the The Loomba Foundation

Officially adopted 2010 by United Nations

At the 2026 International Widows Day commemoration
Universal Declaration of Widows Rights is a new global widows agenda was launched at same place

A 10 articles agenda crafted with inclusion from "The African Perspectives"

16/07/2026

COURTESY ENGAGEMENT WITH HER EXCELLENCY Lady CHERIE BLAIR CBE

The Founding Executive Director/President of the African Widows Growth and Development Initiative (AWGADI) – The Union of African Widows, Dr. Hope Nwakwesi, accompanied by the Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Gabriella Godwin, had the honour of a courtesy meeting with Her Excellency Mrs. Cherie Blair CBE during her visit to Lagos, Nigeria.

The engagement provided an important opportunity to present AWGADI's vision of advancing the rights, dignity, leadership, and economic empowerment of widows across Africa through intentional inclusion in policy, governance, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development initiatives.

Dr. Nwakwesi highlighted the urgent need for widows to be recognised as a distinct constituency within women's empowerment frameworks, noting that millions of widows remain economically vulnerable and underrepresented despite their significant contributions as entrepreneurs, caregivers, and community leaders.

The discussions also explored opportunities for collaboration with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, particularly in the areas of women's entrepreneurship, mentorship, leadership development, and strategic partnerships that will intentionally integrate widows into inclusive economic empowerment programmes.

The meeting reaffirmed a shared commitment to ensuring that no widow is left behind and that inclusive approaches remain central to advancing gender equality and sustainable development.

Together, we continue to champion a future where every widow is visible, valued, and empowered.