By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
In line with Akwa Ibom government’s desire to provide a more sustainable and enduring welfare package for widows of fallen heroes in the State, Governor Umo Eno has initiated a comprehensive package comprising 100 locked-up stores for widows of the military, 50 locked-up stores for widows of fallen police officers and other paramilitary personnel.
Eno, who announced the gesture on Friday, during the grand finale of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance and Celebration Day, 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, government donated N150 million to widows of the fallen military men and officers as welfare package, and another N100 million for widows of fallen police officers, adding that for 2026, he will build 150 locked-up 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 widows of the military, 50 locked-up stores for widows of fallen police officers and other paramilitary personnel”, the governor said, adding that on completion of the locked-up stores, each of the allottees will be supported with a take-off grant.
Eno directed the coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Akwa Ibom, the commissioner for women affairs and social welfare, as well as the special adviser, Bureau of Cooperatives, to coordinate to ensure the project commences and gets delivered in good time, calling on corporate organisations to support the Nigerian Legion as part of their Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR).
The governor supported the Legionnaires with N20 million, while widows of foreign heroes in attendance were supported with another N20 million.
He also donated N120 million to support officers and men of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other paramilitary organisations who are alive, saying that while celebrating those who were gone, it was also necessary to encourage those who are living.
The governor 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 emphasising the strength in our diversity, especially as the political season dawns on us,” he stated.
Eno paid tribute to the fallen heroes, with reference to John 15:13, which says, “Greater love hath no man than this that a man should lay down his life for his friends”, and noted their ultimate sacrifice of laying down their lives for the country.
According to him, “They paid the ultimate price so we may live in peace; so the territorial integrity of our nation may never be threatened or be in jeopardy”, advising the people against treating security men with contempt, as without their sacrifices, no one would live in peace in the State and county.
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