… Awards N250m business grant to widows of service men

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has called on Nigerian leaders and citizens to exhibit attributes of patriotism in order to reciprocate the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes, as he announced a new tranche of his administration’s support for widows of fallen service men.

The Governor who directed the Ministries of Women Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs to collaborate and ensure that the widows of the fallen heroes in the Armed Forces and the Police, are encouraged to engage in economic ventures and absorbed into the various empowerment programmes in the State, announced a grant of two hundred and fifty million naira (N250,000,000. 00) at the commemoration of this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day, in Uyo.

Governor Eno also directed that the widows be made to benefit from training programmes of the state-owned Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development Centre, Ibom-LED, to enhance their economic potentials.

“Today, I direct the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Permanent Secretary of Humanitarian Affairs, not only to disburse money to these women but to ensure that each and every one of them has something doing. They will improve the trade of those engaged in trading and where possible, send them to be trained in Ibom LED, to make sure they run their businesses well.

“It is on this occasion therefore that I am announcing the sum of one hundred and fifty million naira to be given to these women and to be disbursed promptly and accordingly to ensure that they carry on their trade.

“Let me specially also announce another one hundred million naira to the Police and other security agencies because they too have fallen heroes and I stand here as a proud son of a Police officer who gave his life in the line of duty. So, we will continue to live our lives in a way that will honour those that have gone before us.”

The Akwa Ibom State Chief Executive assured that his administration will continue to be intentional about honouring the sacrifices of fallen heroes who, driven by the spirit of patriotism, enlisted into the various arms of the military to defend the territorial integrity of the nation or restore peace at various flashpoints of violence, despite knowing they may end up paying the ultimate price.

He called on Nigerians to demonstrate their respect for fallen service men by identifying with the sentiments they sacrificed their lives for.

“The question remains: Have we done enough to correspondingly show our appreciation for their heroism and sacrifices? Are the issues that led to the conflicts that claimed their lives resolved? Are we living in a truly united, fair and equitable nation where opportunities abound for every one? Are we the leaders, doing all we can to run an inclusive forward-looking government, where the issues and concerns of the people form the motivating impulses of our engagements? These are questions we should ponder on as we honour the services of our patriotic and brave men and officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“We in Akwa Ibom will continue to celebrate and honour their sacrifices. We will continue to intentionally do all we can to assist them as well as the Nigerian Legionnaires.

“The widows of our fallen soldiers and those who served the nation diligently will not walk alone. We will stand by you, pray with you and give you our support. May the souls of the gallant officers, men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces rest in peace,” he concluded.