NGO Assists 150 Military Widows With Interest-free Loans, Cash, Foodstuff

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Military Widows Support Initiative (MWSI), has supported 150 widows of fallen heroes with interest-free loans, foodstuffs and cash gifts in Abuja.

The group also gave undisclosed units of Dangote shares to 20 widows as future investments.
Its patronve and director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho, said the gesture aims to complement what the Armed Forces of Nigeria is doing for families of fallen heroes.

He said, “Because the truth is that there is no way that the loss that these women have had to face, there’s no way that the armed forces as an institution alone can bridge that gap. So we thought it wise to pull funds from our sponsors to see how we can also add to what the military is already doing for them. A number of these people are the true warriors, they are the true heroes because they are the ones really paying the sacrifice.

“It is because of them that, I mean, we can do what we’re doing. Their spouses, the children of these women have had to pay the ultimate price so that Nigeria can be one,” Folorunsho said.

He continued, “We started this three years ago, just pulling funds, personal funds and from some of our friends.

“And then the second year, same thing. But this year, a number of people that heard what we’re doing have decided to come onboard.

“We hope that people that would want to support this very wonderful initiative, there’s space for everyone to ensure that we can put smiles on the faces of these women.”

He noted that beyond cash gifts,food and other empowerments for the widows, the initiative also facilitates admission into the prestigious Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).

Mrs Salome Gwaza who is a beneficiary and head of partnership for Military Widows Support Initiative said the organisation seeks to intervene in some areas where the support from the military institution cannot cover.

She called on other well meaning Nigerians especially corporate organisations to assist families of fallen heroes.

She said, “For a wife to an officer, you are used to having your husband provide everything for you, even though you are working, but every other thing is provided for you and all.

But now that your husband is not there, sometimes you need some things and we would not want to beg people for anything. So to avoid all of this, we would really appreciate that a lot of organisations, NGOs and foundations can continue to reach out to fallen heroes’ wives and children, help them in their academics, scholarship-wise, and help the wives in getting jobs, getting empowerment in their businesses. So this would also make us happy and know that we are not alone in this and our husband did not die for nothing”.

“The Nigerian Navy also are playing their own part by assisting us. Although the money is not up to the school fees, but it’s assisting us. We actually appreciate what we are getting from them. Then we now hustle and adopt to work with them.

We live every day, we keep hope alive. We pray that this military widows support initiative, if we can have more of it, they will be bringing us out and we will be benefiting something. I think it will go a long way because the economy is not laughing at anybody now. Even if you are not a widow, you are not finding it easy,”.