Adashe empowers widows with 100 new homes

Kaduna State witnessed a landmark humanitarian intervention on Monday as Adashe Women Housing delivered 100 newly-built housing units to widows in Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area. The initiative, led by the Founder and CEO of Adashe Women Housing, Dr Umma Sani, aims to improve living conditions for widows and orphans while promoting sustainable livelihoods.

The project was made possible through land contributions from Dr Sani and partnerships with the Family Homes Fund, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and NASEINI, according to a statement on Thursday.

The commissioning ceremony attracted high-profile personalities, including Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, and Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa. The event was celebrated as a model for uplifting vulnerable groups through housing and empowerment initiatives.

Governor Sani, addressing attendees, highlighted the project’s focus on sustainability and climate resilience. He said, “The whole project is focused on sustainability and climate resilience. That’s why you want to design a temperature inside much lower than the temperature you find outside.

“So, that is going to reduce their energy costs while in occupation. Innovative, self-sustaining, climate-smart 100-unit homes are being delivered for women, but most people say 100 widows. Widows are leaders of communities; they support families. So, 100 families in a collaborative and cooperative manner. This is a collaborative endeavour.”

Minister Atiku Bagudu praised the holistic approach of Adashe Women Housing, emphasising the combination of accommodation and livelihood support.

“Let me appreciate Dr Umma Sani and her team at the Adashe Women Empowerment Society. You didn’t stop at building houses; you built futures. By combining housing with training, small businesses support, and livelihoods, you have created a model that goes beyond shelter. You have given those women the tools to stand on their own feet,” he said.

Minister Musa Dangiwa underlined the direct benefits for beneficiaries, stating, “Now, this is a group of widows; the NGO takes care of their needs. We have 100 units that we are commissioning today, and we are excited to begin this pilot process in Kaduna.”

For Dr Umma Sani, the handover marked the fulfilment of a personal dream. “It all started as a dream, before it became hope, and now Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has made me see the great day that I’m going to touch the lives of 100 widows. Growing up as an orphan, my first challenge was shelter. That is why I am helping widows, who in turn support orphans,” she said.

The Chairman of Family Homes Fund Limited, Mr Ademola Adebesi, described the initiative as symbolic. “It symbolises renewed hope and restored dignity for 100 resilient women empowered through this initiative. It reflects our shared vision of inclusive growth, where affordable housing becomes a foundation for economic participation and improved quality of life,” he said.

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, lauded the project for promoting stability and empowerment. “Each home represents stability for a family that has endured hardship, a safe place where mothers can raise their children, rebuild their lives, and look to the future with renewed confidence. In Kaduna State, development must be inclusive, and women, especially widows and single mothers, are central to our social transformation agenda,” she added.

Officials of Adashe Women Housing, Hauwa Adamu Sani, and Yairima Rabi Muhammad, expressed gratitude to Dr. Umma Sani and Governor Sani. “It always comes from a dream, and now it becomes hope. The government collaborates with us to build houses for widows. The widows are very happy, and the orphans are going to be raised in a serene and secure estate,” they said.

The project represents a model of social housing in Nigeria, blending homeownership with skills development, livelihood support, and climate-smart construction to uplift vulnerable communities.