Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Akeredolu gives N7.5m soft loan to 52 widows in Ondo
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has given out no fewer than N7.5million soft loan to 52 widows of fallen heroes in commemoration of the 2022 Armed Forces remembrance day celebration in the state.
Akeredolu, who made this known on Saturday in Akure at the final event of Parade and Laying of Wreaths said the gesture was to assist in resuscitating the widows trading businesses which had gone down over the years due to overbearing family commitments, which were hitherto the primary responsibility of their husbands.
According to him, the final event of Parade and Laying of Wreaths is very symbolic to the memorials of our fallen heroes all over the world, especially in this part of the continent, every society has a unique culture of honouring their heroes.
He said, “Indeed, we are here today to appreciate all our fallen heroes, both military and civilians as well, who have shed their blood for the unity and peace of this country.
“They, indeed, fought a good fight for the sustainability of their fatherland. We are here to say well done to them and those who have been favoured to be alive till today.
“We on our part, without mincing words, have come to praise them, both the departed and the living, for their patriotism. They died our deaths, they bore our injuries, and they lost their lives for humanity. They have indeed sacrificed their lives for us to know peace.
“My people, they deserve our praises, they deserve our honours, and they deserve our appreciations. It would amount to doing them the greatest injustice, just to praise them with words alone, but valuable, when it is backed up with our support, financially and materially.
“Since we came on board in 2017, we have been touching the lives of a considerable number of the widows of the departed heroes, through the microcredit revolving loans.
“Our efforts in this direction would continue under this scheme and other packages as would be deemed fit to make these widows self-employed, self-reliant and independent through capacity training with start-up packages.”
Akeredolu, therefore, called on people to complement government’s efforts by donating generously towards the wellbeing of the Legionnaires and also by employing the services of members who are still fit in the productive enterprise.
The Governor, who also appreciated all security apparatus in the state including the Amotekun Corps for their efforts at ensuring there was peace and order in Ondo state said that the present administration had reiterated its commitment to do everything humanly possible to ensure that no segment of the society is neglected.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Taiwo Agoyi, who said her husband died in 1992 in Ejigbo C30 plane crash, appreciated the Governor’s gesture for toeing his predecessor’s way by giving them soft loan since his inception in office.
“I am into poultry business such as goat, fish and chicken. Today I get N600,000 loan from government though I was giving N50,000 at the first place but when i paid it back as expected that is why i got the big money this time around.
“On behalf of my other widows, we appreciate the Governor for the kind gesture because it will go along way to assist us in taking care of our families and we promise to use the money judiciously,” Agoyi said.
The Parade and Laying of Wreaths is a culture of honour within the military parlance which depicts the highest way of showing their respect to fallen heroes.
