Sustainable Empowerment For Widows Of Fallen Heroes Underway in A’Ibom
... As Governor Eno Calls For Corporate Support For Retired Soldiers
A comprehensive package for a sustainable empowerment for widows of fallen heroes has been initiated in Akwa Ibom State.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, announced this at the grand finale of the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The Governor said while the annual ceremony remains very necessary, there was need for a sustainable means of livelihood for the widows, as part of efforts to truly honour the fallen heroes.
He recalled that last year, his administration donated the sum of N150m to the widows of the fallen military men and officers as welfare package, and another ₦100m for the widows of fallen police officers, adding that for 2026, he will build 150 lockup shops for the widows.
“This year, based on our desire to provide a more sustainable and enduring welfare package for those whose loved ones paid the ultimate sacrifice, we will build 100 locked-up stores for the widows of the military, 50 locked-up stores for the widows of fallen Police officers and other paramilitary personnel.”
Read Also: Families of Deceased Police Officers Get N22.9 Million in Akwa Ibom
The Governor said on completion of the lockup stores, each of the allottees will be supported with a take-off grant.
The Governor supported the Nigerian Legionnaires with N20 million, while widows of foreign heroes in attendance were supported with another N20M.
He equally made a donation of N120 million to support officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other paramilitary organisations who are alive, saying that while celebrating those that are gone, it was also necessary to encourage those that are living.
The Governor who directed the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and the Special Adviser, Bureau of Cooperatives to coordinate to ensure the project commences and gets delivered in good time, called on corporate organizations to support the Nigerian Legion as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).
He commended the gallant officers and men of the Armed Forces as well as other service units, both serving and dead, for their sacrifices to maintain peace in the country, and appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the decisive manner of tackling the issues of security challenges in the country.
“Let me also use the opportunity of this event to continue to call for inter-religious tolerance. We are a nation under one God, and the means and approach with which we worship our God should not be the instrument of division and intolerance.
“We as leaders, should lower divisive rhetoric while emphasizing the strength in our diversity, especially as the political season dawns on us,” he stated.
While paying tribute to the fallen heroes, he made reference to John 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives for our country. They pay the ultimate price so we may live in peace; so the territorial integrity of our nation may never be threatened or be in jeopardy.”
He enjoined the people not to treat security men with contempt, emphasizing that without their sacrifices, no one would live in peace in the State and county.
