By Janet Sam
In a renewed effort to rekindle hope among Nigeria’s most vulnerable, the Christian Care for Widows, Widowers, Orphans and the Aged (CCWA) has called on government, corporate bodies, embassies, and individuals to partner in supporting its 2025 Annual Convention and Exhibition scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025, at the Women Development Centre, Abuja.
The organization, founded 33 years ago by Professor Deborah Ajakaie, has touched thousands of lives across the country through skill empowerment, education, healthcare, and emotional support. After a seven-year break caused by insecurity and lack of funds, the 2025 convention themed “Embracing the Forgotten” aims to reunite and celebrate over 125,000 widows and orphans under its care
Speaking during a press conference, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Barrister Tina Ene Yao,, explained that previous conventions lasted five days, featuring medical outreaches, skill acquisition sessions, solidarity walks, and exhibitions, but due to financial constraints, this year’s event has been abridged to one day.
Barrister Tina lamented that CCWA has been running solely on individual donations without government or corporate support despite its far-reaching impact. She urged ministries, agencies, and private bodies to collaborate with the group to empower widows and orphans across the country. “These people need to be seen, supported, and celebrated,” she said. “We appeal for government partnership to enable us to continue this humanitarian work.”
The Chairman of the CCWA Team Forum, Professor Apkezi Ogbuigwe, described the founder of the organisation, Professor Deborah Ajakaiye, as a visionary woman inspired by the biblical passage in James 1:27, which calls for care for widows and orphans. She said CCWA now has more than 125,000 widows in its membership, many of whom are victims of violence and displacement across Nigeria. According to her, “The work of CCWA is urgent. We want to tell them that they are not forgotten. We are embracing the forgotten and restoring hope to those who have lost everything.”
National Coordinator of the organisation, Mrs. Alexandra Nathan, explained that CCWA’s activities focus on providing physical, emotional, and spiritual support to its beneficiaries. She said the group’s seven core programs are designed to empower widows and orphans through skills training, counselling, and education. “A person can be supported financially and still be emotionally down,” she said. “We ensure that body, mind, and soul are supported so that healing is complete.”
Mrs. Nathan added that the group continues to operate zonal programs despite the absence of national conventions in recent years, noting that thousands of widows have been trained in skills acquisition across the country. She stressed that empowering vulnerable women and children would build a safer society, saying, “The person you don’t help today may become tomorrow’s social problem.”
Also speaking, Mrs. Adeola Bako, a team member of CCWA, said she joined the organisation three years ago after years of personally assisting widows. She praised the founder’s efforts and described CCWA’s scholarship and empowerment initiatives as life-changing. According to her, financial limitations have slowed the organisation’s progress, and stronger partnerships are needed to sustain its activities. “With more partners, we can do more,” she said. “We need resources to buy sewing and grinding machines and other equipment to empower these women. Partnership will put smiles on their faces and give them hope.”
The speakers jointly noted that the CCWA convention would feature free medical checks, exhibitions of products made by widows and orphans, and scholarship awards to deserving students. They also clarified that the group is open to all faiths, not only Christians. “Death is not discriminatory,” Mrs Dupe Kashimawo remarked. “Our care is driven by love, not religion.”
They appealed to Nigerians to attend the 2025 CCWA Annual Convention and Exhibition holding on Saturday, November 15, 2025, by 10 a.m. at the Women Development Centre, Central Area, Abuja. “Come and celebrate them. Come and support them. Come and see that there is still hope for the forgotten,” they urged.