In a remarkable achievement, the CBA Foundation’s “Repression of Widowhood” campaign has been honored with two awards at the 2025 Pitcher Awards. The foundation received the Silver Award for Societal Impact in the Effectiveness Category and the Bronze Award in the Non-Profit Organizations in the Pitcher for Good Category, recognizing its impactful work in advocating for widows across Nigeria.
When the campaign was launched, it was never about accolades—it was about restoring dignity and amplifying the voices of women often silenced by society. Over 15 million women in Nigeria are widows, many of whom face abuse, social exclusion, neglect, or wrongful accusations of their husbands’ deaths. Some are evicted from their homes, while most are left to survive alone with children to care for, with little support.
The foundation’s journey began with a podcast aimed at educating widows about their legal rights, which quickly evolved into a nationwide movement. From online awareness campaigns to organizing a Walkathon that inspired Nigerians to show solidarity, the initiative aimed to raise both awareness and tangible support for these women.
But awareness alone was not enough. The foundation listened to the silent cries of widows and took concrete action. With the help of five FMCG brands, they delivered:
– Food relief and healthcare services to 412 widows across Lagos, Ogun, and Anambra states
– Seed funding and financial empowerment training for over 20 women to start their own businesses
– Free healthcare for 202 widows
– Re-enrollment of 169 children into school
– Seven impactful podcast episodes reaching over 51,000 listeners
– A sustainable skill-building program, Art Piece of Hope, teaching widows tie & dye fabric making for long-term income
These efforts are stories of resilience—more than just numbers, they represent lives transformed with hope, dignity, and a future.
And then came the recognition. At the Pitcher Awards 2025, the campaign was honored with two prestigious awards:
Silver for Societal Impact in Effectiveness Category – This category celebrates the measurable impact of creative work. Entries in the Societal Impact subcategory demonstrate how the campaign drove tangible results, was instrumental to cultural change, social change, environmental change or was integral to achieving a brand’s purpose.
Bronze for Non-Profit Organizations in Pitcher for Good Category – This subcategory recognizes communication or initiative that addresses social or environmental issues created by non-profit organizations or a partnership between a for-profit organization and non-profit organization.
A proud moment for the CBA Foundation, digitXplus, and for every widow whose life was touched.
“This recognition is for every woman who thought her story had ended,” said Chinwe Bode Akinwande, Founder of the CBA Foundation. “It’s a reminder that we see you, we hear you, and we will keep fighting for you.”
Damilola Popoola, Head of Strategy at digitXplus, added, “It’s not every day you get to be in the forefront of a vision that truly changes lives. We’re proud of this win, but even prouder of the impact we’ve made.”
This achievement underscores the foundation’s commitment to justice, humanity, and lasting social change. The foundation affirms that their work is far from over. We’re walking for hope—until every widow can stand tall again.
