The Ondo State chapter of the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has commenced its 2025 week of activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the association’s founding.

The celebration, which runs from Sunday, June 1 to Saturday, June 7, is themed “FOMWAN @ 40: Impacting Lives & Developing Communities.”

This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairperson of the Community Development and Humanitarian Services Committee, FOMWAN, Ondo State Chapter, Alhaja Rafat Momoh.

The statement reads:Now in its fourth decade, FOMWAN has remained committed to grassroots development, humanitarian outreach, and social reform.

The Ondo State chapter continues to operate in line with the association’s national objectives, focusing on initiatives that uplift the less privileged across the state and beyond.

Ongoing Community and Humanitarian Impact

Over the years, FOMWAN Ondo has executed a wide range of impactful programmes aimed at improving the welfare of vulnerable groups. These include:

Support for Correctional Facilities:
The association regularly visits Olokuta and other correctional centres, securing the release of selected inmates by paying fines and providing essential items.

Women Empowerment:
The wife of one inmate recently received nylon production equipment and startup capital, enabling her to begin a small business and gain financial independence.

Support for Orphanages and Hospitals:
The association has also donated to motherless babies’ homes, offset medical bills, and provided support to vulnerable patients in public hospitals.

Elderly and Vulnerable Outreach:
Through its Elders’ Forum, FOMWAN offers food, clothing, and financial aid to widows, orphans, and the elderly, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.

Inclusive Education Support:
FOMWAN regularly supports special education institutions such as the School for the Blind, School for the Hearing Impaired, and other centres for children living with disabilities. In recognition of this, the School for the Blind has named the association its “Life Matron.”

Student Support:
The group has been active in subsidising school fees for indigent students across Ondo State.

Emergency Aid:
In one notable instance, FOMWAN provided assistance to a disabled nursing mother in Akoko who required urgent medical attention following childbirth.

2025 Week Activity Schedule

The week-long celebration features a series of events showcasing the association’s work and engaging the public:

Sunday, June 1 – Opening Day:
A press conference officially launched the anniversary week, with leaders of the association highlighting key milestones and reaffirming FOMWAN’s ongoing commitment to community development.

Monday, June 2 – Thursday, June 5:
A Product Exhibition and Sales event is taking place, featuring items made by members of the association such as disinfectants, Adire fabrics, bedding, bags, snacks, mats, and other decorative pieces. The event promotes local enterprise and women’s empowerment.

Friday, June 6:
Special Jum’at services will be held in mosques across the state, with a unified sermon topic titled “Humanitarian Services – A Tool for Islamic Propagation and Human Development.”

Saturday, June 7 – Humanitarian Day:
The celebration will climax with a commemorative lecture on “Humanitarian Services – Catalyst for Community Growth and Sustainable Human Development.” The lecture will underscore the critical role of service in fostering peaceful and prosperous societies.

National Grand Finale in Kaduna

Activities in Ondo State will build up to the grand finale of FOMWAN’s 40th anniversary celebrations at the upcoming National Conference in Kaduna.

The event is expected to attract delegates from across the country and serve as a platform to showcase the association’s long-standing impact and future direction.

FOMWAN has called on the media, civil society, and well-meaning Nigerians to support the visibility of its work and amplify the voices of women driving positive change through service and compassion.