​PAST ACTIVITIES 
APRIL 1996 "Symposium on Improving the Social Status of women and widows" in collaboration with British Council. 

November 1996 "WiDO enlightenment day " and drama presentation titled "Lamentation " 

Working with FIDA and Ministry of Women Affairs on the Widows Welfare Committee set up to research in to the current widowhood practices in 12 local government areas of Enugu State 1998 

Working as consultants to CFC in collaboration with TVE for the filming of a documentary titled "TILL DEATH DO US PART" November 1998 

Interview of Trustees for the BBC Worldwide service 1999. 

Presentation at AWID conference Virginia USA November 1999 

Interview on VOA world service 1999 

Research in 6 Local Government Areas of Enugu State in collaboration with UNDP 

Feature in the MARIE CLAIRE women’s magazine February 2000 UK Edition 

Gender empowerment activity in Ugwu-ogo community to mark the 
International Women’s day. March 2000 

Participation by one of our Trustees as a panelist at the Beijing+5 meeting, New York, June 2000 

Interview for the "Carte Blanche" programme by M-NET August 2000 

Research on "THE HEALTH OF WIDOWS AND THEIR CHILDREN" in collaboration with Medical Women's International Association (MWIA) August 2000- March 2001 

Widow Friendly Day November 2000 

Participation at First International Conference on Widows Rights -February 2001 

Presentation of research findings At Medical Women's International Congress, Sydney, Australia. 2001 
Drama production and awareness on bill on widows' rights in collaboration with Canada Fund for local initiatives. 

Presentation at AWID conference Guadalajara, Mexico 2002 

Awareness drive in secondary schools, International Women’s Day 2003 

Presentation at UK House of Commons June 2003 

Presentation at Commonwealth Peoples Forum Abuja December 2003 

Setting up of Widow Support Centre and skills training for 10 widows in collaboration with Irish Women’s Group, Lagos 2003 

6-month radio Jingles on FRCN and ESBS on bill on widow’s rights June –December 2003 in collaboration with Mama Cash of the Netherlands. 

Legislative Consultation, International Women’s Day 8th March 2004 in Collaboration with Global Fund for women at National Assembly, Abuja towards VAPP Act

Follow-up on Legislative Advocacy Consultation 8th March 2005 

Fighting fund for free legal AID services for widows whose rights have been violated  in collaboration with Widows Rights International, UK 2006 

Support for widows whose rights have been violated in collaboration with the European Union 2006 -2007 

Training of Trainers on Will writing in collaboration with Commonwealth Secretariat, UK May 2009 

Skills acquisition training for 5 widows through the Marie Nwandu fund 2010

Presentation  at UN CSW Panels since 2011  annually to date 
 

 

CURRENT ACTIVITIES 

Launch of the Umuagungulori widows scheme Abia State December 2018 to date 

In 2018, the Widows Development Organisation (WiDO)  received a grant  from the Global Fund For Widows  to  support widows of Umuagunglori, Umuegwu Afugiri, Abia state Nigeria .The project was designed in such a fashion that  a new palm oil mill was provided, a well  was dug to help reduce the stress of going to the stream to fetch water and  they were taught to run a Widows Savings and Loan Scheme (WISALA).  The whole value chain involved stakeholders and community members in the entire implementation process. The widows currently participate in monthly club meetings and in maintaining the mill as well as marketing the finished product.

These widows are now role models to other women in the community because of the rapid transformation in their lives. They run their mill, maintain it and have a good source of water. They has access through WISALA for a loan for diverse businesses. They convene regularly and are compliant with monthly repayment and respected in the community

Yearly Commemoration of International Widows day on 23rd June 
International Widow’s Day was recognised due to the pioneering work of the Loomba Foundation. United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution to observe 23 June as UN International Widows’ Day at its 65th General Assembly in 2010.


Lehigh University DGC UN Youth Representatives  programme 2021 to date
Lehigh University Youth Representatives support WiDO by representing us our DGC UN Youth Representative by serving as a liaison to the UN on matters related to the rights of widows of all ages and attend meetings at the United Nations on our behalf and provide reports of their activities.