By Kennedy Sheyin
The Military Widow Support Initiative (MWSI), has supported 150 widows of fallen heroes with funds, foodstuffs and platforms to check their physical, mental and dental health.
The MWSI also enlightened the widows on possible profitable investments to indulge in to further utilise the financial support provided by the initiative to self reliant.
The outreach was
organised in collaboration with Revamp Initiatives, Givelify, Zedcrest, Adedayo Amzat Foundation, Urban Aura, Tali Network, KLF Law, K&K Groceries, Laundry House Abuja and the Nigerian Navy Micro Finance Bank.
Speaking at the event on Saturday, the Patron of the MWSI, Navy Capt. Abiodun Folorunsho, said that the vision and aim of establishing the MWSI is to support what the Armed Forces are already doing to support its widows.
According to Folorunsho, with the gravity of loss that the widows have faced, the armed forces alone as an institution can not be able to bridge that gap.
“It is against this backdrop that 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.
“These are the true warriors, they are the true heroes, because it is they that are really paying the sacrifice. Their spouses have paid the ultimate price so that Nigeria can remain one,” he said.
He recounted starting the initiative three years ago, pulling personal funds from himself and from some friends for the first and second year.
He said that this year being the third has pulled a number of sponsors to join the cause and contribute to putting smiles on the faces of the widows.
He called on other NGOs, foundations, groups and citizens to also join the cause and contribute to supporting the military widows.
The patron said that the medical professionals would take the vitals of the widows to ensure they are healthy physically and emotionally, and thereafter provide consultants where necessary, as well as refer those in need of referral.
According to him, the initiative would also sponsor select women with businesses after a proposal and selection process with interest free -loans ranging from N1 million to N1.5 million.
He also said that a sponsor had pledged to pick no fewer than 20 widows and empower them with dress making and tailoring skills, and accommodate the widows throughout the skills acquisition process.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the outreach also featured therapeutic painting and artwork for the widows to give them a sense of belonging.
Speaking at the outreach, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Olubunmi Oni, expressed appreciation to the MWSI for organising the outreach to assist the widows.
“This is something that should be done continuously, because for a wife of an officer, you are used to having your husband provide for you, even though you are working, but every other thing is provided for you.
“But now that your husband is not there, sometimes you need some things and we would not want to beg people. Thank you for continuously reaching out to fallen heroes’ wives and children,” she said.
She also called on other initiatives to continue to help the widows and their children in the area of academics through scholarships wise, as well as aid the widows in getting jobs and empowerment in their businesses.
Similarly, another beneficiary, Mrs Ibrahim Dotu, also appreciated the MWSI for remembering the military widows, expressing the difficulty faced in tough times such as this.
Dotu sought for assistance for younger widows, pleading support in terms of jobs and skills acquisition, noting that support came every once in a while, but “who gives you today will not give you tomorrow”.(NAN)
Edited by Yakubu Uba
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