NGO puts smiles on faces of widows of army men

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Lieutenant Colonel Kabiru Yusuf Help for Heroes Foundation, launched on January 6, 2018, an initiative set up to help alleviate the challenges encountered by the families of slain army officers has announced a skills acquisition programme for 100 widows. According to the Chief Executor of the foundation,

Alhaji Moshood Yusuf, the plight of the widows and families of slain Nigerian army officers have over time, been a trending concern among Nigerians, well meaning individuals and corporate organisations.

He stressed that many have, at different times, tasked the government to do more for the wives of the nation’s fallen heroes and provide adequate care of the families left behind by the slain officers, especially those who died while on official duties. Prompt payment of accrued benefits, among other incentives were some of the many suggestions by the polity.

He said, “The Lieutenant Colonel Kabiru Yusuf Help For Heroes Foundation is a non-governmental organisation and charity group, rolled out to immortalize Late Lieutenant.

Colonel Kabiru Yusuf, who died whilst in active service defending his father’s land. It would be recalled that he (Kabiru) went missing in action when his battalion were attacked by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents at Ghashigar in Maiduguri, Borno State on 16th October, 2016. Kabiru was later found dead by the river bank, three months after and laid to rest on 06 January, 2017.

“We have thus aimed at remembering him by extending hands of help and providing succor to widows of fallen heroes and injured soldiers in the war front, both serving and retired Nigerian armed forces.

The vision is to provide a kind of additional assistance, which will in turn compliment the support carried out by the Nigerian armed forces to such families. While we are doing what we can, we need support from other partners and well wishers because we are really committed to assisting and contributing to what the armed forces widows association is giving to them.

“We have gone across five states namely Bauchi, Jos, Abuja and Kaduna since we opened our offices on October 20, 2017, seeking affected widows in order to lend a helping hand.

Now, we have identified about 100 widows whom we are sending for skills acquisition. We are, therefore, also calling on well meaning Nigerians, corporate organisations etc to lend their support in assisting the widows and family members. More information can also be found on our official website lckyfoundation.org.

We will be holding a funds raiser on April 1st in Kaduna to actualize this. We will not relent in our efforts to bring smiles and succor to widows and children of our slain heroes”.

Mutiat Alli