HOGWIN Trains, Empowers Widows with Business Grants

In line with its mission to equip widows with the knowledge and skills needed to transform petty trades into sustainable businesses, the Hands of God Widows Support Initiative (HOGWIN) has commenced its Financial Literacy and Business Management Training under the Widows Financial Inclusion (WiFIn) Project.
Launched in August 2025 to promote economic independence, digital inclusion, and financial literacy among underserved widows in Nigeria, the programme will conclude with the empowerment of selected participants, each receiving a micro business grant to support and expand their enterprises.

Speaking at the launch, Phranklin Audu, Executive Director of HOGWIN, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to long-term economic inclusion for widows.
“We must have a mind shift from widows’ empowerment to widows’ investment. An investment in widows yields measurable returns that translate to reduced poverty, improved economic opportunities, and the promotion of gender equality in line with the Sustainable Development Goals,” Audu said.
Acording to him, the Financial Literacy Training covers key areas including budgeting, savings, bookkeeping, business planning, and the use of digital financial tools. These modules are designed to strengthen participants’ financial decision-making abilities and enhance the sustainability of their microbusinesses.
He further expressed deep appreciation to Cashvance Investment Limited, which funded micro grants for five widows, hailing the support as an exemplary demonstration of corporate social responsibility and a commitment to fostering financial inclusion, supporting vulnerable groups, and driving shared economic prosperity.

Audu noted that Cashvance’s involvement underscores the company’s dedication to empowering women-led microbusinesses, reducing poverty, promoting responsible financial habits, stimulating economic growth in low-income communities, and enabling long-term wealth creation through education and access to financial services.

He further called on other financial institutions, private sector organisations, and development partners to collaborate with the WiFIn Project, emphasizing that such partnerships are crucial to closing Nigeria’s financial exclusion gap and expanding community development.

“Over the years, HOGWIN has recorded significant impact through its interventions, providing widows with business tools such as grinding machines, sewing machines, and other livelihood equipment. These contributions have helped widows support their households, pay school fees, and gain economic stability,” he said.

He noted that the WiFIn Project aligns strongly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Early beneficiaries of this year’s WiFIn project expressed their gratitude. Mrs. Tokunbo Agboide, a caterer, said the grant came at the perfect time, enabling her to buy food items in bulk and reduce losses associated with middlemen. Street vendor Esther Okon shared her excitement, noting that purchasing a full bag of corn would significantly increase her profit margins.

The Hands of God Widows Support Initiative (HOGWIN) is a non-profit organisation committed to empowering widows through financial inclusion, entrepreneurship support, and advocacy for gender equality. Since its inception, HOGWIN has impacted over 1,200 widows across Nigeria through skills development, business support, and sustainable livelihood programmes.