First Lady Oluremi Tinubu gives N819m to 1,638 widows of fallen heroes

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu gives N819m to 1,638 widows of fallen heroes

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has provided N819 million in financial support to 1,638 widows of fallen military and police personnel who died in the line of duty between 2023 and 2026.

The intervention was announced on Thursday in Abuja during the second edition of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Social Investment Programme for Widows of Fallen Heroes, which is aimed at supporting families of security personnel who lost their lives while serving the country.

Under the programme, each of the 1,638 beneficiaries will receive N500,000 to either start a new business or recapitalise an existing one. The initiative is designed to help the widows strengthen their livelihoods and meet the needs of their families.

Tinubu said the financial assistance was both a recognition of the sacrifices made by the fallen personnel and an effort to provide practical support to the families they left behind.

She described the beneficiaries as women who had endured significant pain and hardship following the loss of their husbands, while praising their resilience and courage.

The First Lady said military and police families often live with the uncertainty associated with the risks of frontline and security service, adding that spouses also make considerable sacrifices in supporting personnel who serve the country.

She commended the widows for standing by their husbands during their years of service and for continuing to care for their families despite the challenges created by their loss.

Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to regard themselves as survivors rather than victims and encouraged those who had been widowed for longer periods to provide emotional support to women who had more recently lost their spouses.

“We are here to offer a helping hand as you chart a new path forward,” she said.

The First Lady explained that the N819 million would be distributed between widows of fallen military personnel and police officers.

A total of N657.5 million will go to 1,315 widows of fallen military personnel, while N161.5 million will be provided to 323 widows of fallen police officers.

The two allocations bring the total intervention to N819 million for the 1,638 beneficiaries.

READ ALSO:

• Champions League: Yaya Touré becomes first African coach to reach league phase
• Sunday Igboho Launches ‘Iru Ekun’ Security Outfit in Ogun, Says FG Will Train Members
• VeryDarkMan dares police to charge him over kidnapping claims

Tinubu also recalled that the Renewed Hope Initiative had on November 14, 2023, provided N250,000 each to 1,420 widows and orphans of fallen heroes selected through the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, DEPOWA.

She said the latest programme covers widows whose husbands lost their lives in the line of duty since the assumption of office of President Bola Tinubu.

According to the First Lady, the intervention is intended to enable beneficiaries to invest in businesses that can generate income and provide longer-term financial support for their households.

She commended Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, and Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, for supporting the compilation and verification of records of eligible beneficiaries from 2023 to date.

Tinubu also said President Bola Tinubu recognised the sacrifices of security personnel who died while protecting Nigerians and safeguarding the country.

Speaking at the event, Oluyede thanked the President, the First Lady and Hajiya Nana Shettima, Vice-Chairperson of the RHI, for extending support to families of fallen heroes.

The Chief of Defence Staff described the intervention as a demonstration of national solidarity and compassion, saying it complemented existing institutional efforts to support families of personnel who died in service.

Oluyede said the initiative also reassured serving military personnel that the country recognised their sacrifices and remained concerned about the welfare of their families.

He urged the beneficiaries to use the financial support judiciously, particularly for their welfare, their children’s education and future development.

The Inspector-General of Police similarly described the intervention as an expression of compassionate leadership and appreciation for the sacrifices of fallen officers.

Disu said the impact of losing a security officer extends beyond the individual because families left behind often continue to face emotional and financial difficulties.

He said the intervention sent a message that the country had not forgotten either the fallen personnel or the families they left behind.

“When a nation loses a hero, the sacrifice does not end with that hero. It continues in the homes, the hearts and the daily struggles of families left behind,” the IGP said.

Some beneficiaries have indicated plans to invest the N500,000 support in existing businesses or livelihood activities.

One of them, Salomi Gideon Gwaza, widow of late Commander G.Y. Gwaza, said she intended to use the funds to strengthen her business.

Gwaza’s husband died in July 2024 during an operation connected to the rescue of people from a distressed merchant vessel.

Another beneficiary, Olubunmi Oni, widow of late Major Segun Abiodun Oni, said she planned to use the intervention to rebuild and expand her fashion business, which she had struggled to maintain after her husband’s death.

The First Lady’s latest intervention is expected to provide immediate financial relief while helping beneficiaries establish or strengthen income-generating activities.

Beyond the monetary value of the programme, the initiative also seeks to recognise the sacrifices of fallen military and police personnel and reassure their families that their contributions to national security have not been forgotten.

Tinubu urged the beneficiaries to use the funds as a foundation for rebuilding their livelihoods and creating better opportunities for their children.

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu gives N819m to 1,638 widows of fallen heroes