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Oluyemi Irefin Speaks On The Importance Of Helping Widows
The chairperson of 81 Division of the Nigeria Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs Oluyemi Irefin, has urged Nigerians to help widows of military men and other fallen heroes.
She said today’s widows once lived happily with their spouses until they suddenly lost them to the service of their fatherland.
Mrs Irefin spoke on Momday in Ikeja, the Lagos State capital, when she donated food items to some widows and families of military personnel that died while defending their fatherland.
The NAOWA members said it was part of activities to mark the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
The event is usually held on January 15 every year.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event took place at the 9 Brigade in Ikeja Cantonment.
Some of the items included cartons of noodles, groundnut oil, tin tomatoes, rice, garri, beans, detergents, semolina, salt, seasoning and toiletries.
She urged the beneficiaries to be resilient, brave and engage in positive ventures that would create better living for them after the demise of their bread winners.
Mrs Irefin also advised the widows to strive hard to educate their children and wards.
The NAOWA chairperson said this would make them to take care of their families and contribute positively to national development.
“You must strive to send your children to school or enrol them in skills acquisition programmes as education is a sure key to success. It is the only investment you can give to your children and they will value when you are not there with them again.
“So, without white collar jobs, they will have some things to fall back on and move on in life. Remember, when the children are well educated, the chance of child abuse and teenage pregnancy will be reduced,” she said.
Mrs Irefin urged the widows to accept the token, saying the association was planning to come up with programmes from which they would derive more benefits in future.
“This association wants to use the opportunity provided by the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in 2020 to entreat our sisters to please accept the token, which we will present to you.
“Use them judiciously, as we hope to come up with programmes of mutual benefits,” Mrs Irefin said.
She applauded the widows for continuing to cater for their families after the demise of their husbands.
“Once upon a time, many of the widows we see today were living the lives that most of us have now; they were living happily with their spouses and children.
“They were not bothered then about the finances of their homes as their husbands were there to provide the needs of their families.
“In a jiffy, everything changed and they were left alone, traumatised.
“Let us remember that these widows are often women in the prime; young women who are left as sole carriers for their children and also responsible for shelter, food, education and other well-being,” she said.
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