As part of efforts to identify with the widows of fallen heroes and alleviate their pains, the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian army in Katsina has declared last Friday of every month as a day to have lunch and counselling session for them.
The Brigade commander, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose who said this during the widows outreach and lectures organized as part of activities lined up for this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day added that the lunch, will not only ensure the widows are happy but will avail the brigade the opportunity to know challenges being faced by the widows and how to help tackle them head on.
It was an atmosphere of soberness as the wives of the fallen heroes including the 30 officers and men’s wives who died between year 2020 and 2022 converged.
At a point the widows were sober when the corps members serving in the brigade staged a drama on the sacrifices made by officers and men of the armed forces to keep the nation united.
Just as the moment lasted, faces of the widows beamed with smiles again when the corps members displayed their cultural dancing skills.
At the event, the Brigade commander, Brigadier General Ibikunle Ajose told the widows that they have taken a step further apart from the scholarship programs for the children of the fallen heroes, to having lunch with them so as to alleviate their plights and identity with them.
For the former acting army spokesman and now Director of Research and Development Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Brigadier General Sagir Musa during his lecture, appealed to the Federal Government to adequately cater for the welfare needs and professional requirements of members as well as continue to initiate ways and means of honouring and appreciating the personnel of the Armed Forces.
Speaking on behalf of the wives of the fallen heroes, the wife of a warrant officer who died last year, Hauwa Mohammed, described family challenges as one of the issues she faced after her husband’s death.
According to her, it is when she visited the joint army cemetery that she believed her husband is dead after seeing the display of his passport photograph.
To Muhammed, she needs courage and support to carry on with the dream of her late husband as regards their education which the late husband never jokes with.
The weeklong 2023 armed forces remembrance day activities will climax on Sunday, January 15 with parade, wreath laying ceremony and medical out reach across the country.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
