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National chairman, Nigerian Legion, Ms. Grace Morenike Henry, has disclosed that 40 widows of deceased servicemen have been empowered, welfare of military veterans taken care of and over 220 new commissionaires trained. She spoke during the 62nd anniversary of the legion in Abuja rceently.
She said: “The anniversary, themed ‘62 Years of Courage, Commitment and Legacy of the Nigerian Armed Forces’, brought together senior military officers, veterans, widows of fallen heroes, government officials and stakeholders from across the country.
“The legion is a vital institution dedicated to promoting the welfare of ex-servicemen and women, supporting families of fallen heroes and preserving the values of services, discipline, loyalty and sacrifice. The Legion has continued to serve as a bridge between veterans and society, ensuring that those who defend the nation are not forgotten.
“As we celebrate the important milestone, we pay tribute to our veterans whose commitments and sacrifices have contributed immensely to the peace, security and unity of Nigeria. We also honour the memories of the gallant men and women who paid the supreme price in service to our fatherland. Together, we can build a society that truly honours and cares for our veterans and their families.
“Widows and retired officers were empowered with grinding machines, sewing machines and cash rewards aimed at improving their livelihoods and promoting self-reliance. Foodstuffs and cash were distributed to the elderly and veterans. Our goal is to create a better life for veterans, restore respect, dignity, pride and honour the families of fallen heroes, and support living legendary veterans.
“To the fallen heroes, courage, patriotism, and selfless service to the nation will never be forgotten. We will continue to support their families. The celebration serves as a reminder of the enduring sacrifices made by members of the Armed Forces and the need to uphold their dignity and welfare.
“We have also trained 283 military veterans in disaster management and safety management while empowering widows of fallen heroes with grinding and tailoring machines. The empowerment is to help widows, make them self-reliant, independent and improve their livelihoods.
“We express gratitude to Institute Disaster Management and Safety Science (IDMSS), for collaborating with the Nigerian Legion on the training initiative. We call on government, private sector and other stakeholders in the mandate of providing welfare for veterans and families of fallen veterans.
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“The existing law should be amended and strengthened to enhance the welfare and representation of ex-servicemen. Nigerian Legion Acts should establish a veteran federation of Nigeria and a dedicated Ministry of Veterans Affairs in line with international best standards and produce reforms to elevate the organisation to a global standard by improving the administrative strengths.
“The new commissionaires are trained to uphold the values instilled during their training and to maintain exemplary conduct to the council. Anything otherwise could lead to outright dismissal. They should refrain from criminal activities and are cautioned against equating their paramilitary training to military status emphasising the district role of the corps.”
Henry represented Nigeria at the 105th anniversary of the Warriors Day Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition [CNE] Grounds, Toronto, Canada. She said: “The international partnership is key to upgrading local veteran healthcare and rehabilitation frameworks. Participants aligned with the government agenda seeking to elevate Nigeria global diplomatic standing and honour the sacrifices of its military personnel by fostering deep collaboration with the North American counterpart.
“It was historic parade celebrated under the theme; ‘Supporting Our Veterans Since First World War.’ It was over a century of global solidarity remembrance and welfare for military veterans. The event featured a colourful and solemn march parade, bringing together veterans, military personnel and contingent leaders from various nations to honour the sacrifices of wartime heroes.
“Nigerian Legion is with the global counterpart to modernise its operation and global best proactive at repositioning the legion and adopting universal acceptable administrative produce with the Royal British Legion in London recently.
“Nigeria Legion and Royal British Legion drive reforms to elevate the organisation to a global standard. The visit was to build lasting cooperation and a strategic partnership between the two organisations.
“The Nigeria Legion will continue to adopt international standards and best practices to further improve the welfare of Armed Forces veterans. The veterans’ dual mandate is to serve community resilience professionals, apply specialised knowledge in the serve of the nation.”
