Hope Nwakwesi, founder of Almanah Hope Foundation (AHF)
The Almanah Hope Foundation (AHF) says it will lead an advocacy effort for the protection of widows at its second African Widows summit scheduled to be held in Windhoek, Namibia, in September.
In a statement on Sunday to commemorate International Widows’ Day, Hope Nwakwesi, founder of the foundation, said the summit would attract widow leaders, policymakers, civil society actors and government officials to address the marginalisation of widows in Africa.
Nwakwesi said the initiative seeks to shift the narrative of widowhood from one of vulnerability to one of empowerment through strategic action of governance and socio-economic inclusion.
“For too long, widows have been alienated, sidelined, denied their rights and forced to struggle in silence, which we are here to change,” the statement reads.
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“More than 258 million widows around the world, many of them here in Africa, face deep-rooted discrimination, poverty, and cultural violence.
“International Widows’ Day is a moment to say enough is enough, and Africa, as a continent of most countries known to be home to these widows, the widows have set a new benchmark requirement.”
She added that the summit would witness the launch of an African widows’ agenda to help shape inclusive policies for widows across the continent.
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Nwakwesi, who founded AHF after her own experience with widowhood, described the upcoming event as a follow-up to the foundation’s 2024 summit in Zanzibar, which was opened by Hussein Ali Mwinyi, Tanzanian President.
She also said the 2025 edition would expand on that foundation by inviting delegates from the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN) women, national gender ministries and local widow-led organisations.
