Gombe Deputy Gov commends military widow’s group over skills acquisition for members
By Jack Tasha
The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Manassah Jatau, has commended the Nigerian Military and officials of Military Widows Association for undertaking skills acquisition training for Veterans and military widows towards alleviating their sufferings.
The Deputy Governor’s remarks was contained in his address during the skills training and acquisition program organised by the Military Widows Association in conjunction with SMEDAN and the Nigerian Army at International Hotel, Gombe.
The Deputy Governor expressed happiness that the training which is aimed at building the capacity and potentials of the veterans and women who lost their beloved husbands would alleviate some of their sufferings in no small measure.
He lamented the unpleasant, uncomfortable, and sad situation widows are plunged into after the demise of their spouses, making them to shoulder additional responsibilities that are further aggravated by global events that impacted negatively on all aspect of their lives.
Jatau further lamented the bureaucratic bottlenecks in getting death and retirement benefits, as well as challenges of cultural practices that seemed to suggest that the widows are not entitled to anything of their spouses except the children who must miraculously survive, grow and become successful in the society before they are claimed by their relatives.
He said, “Having witnessed these challenges faced by widows, decades in decades out, the conception, establishment and the take off of this association of widows of fallen heroes comprising Officers and Men of the Nigerian Armed Forces is heartwarming.
“That the occasion came up with programs we are witnessing today is highly laudable, commendable and a venture that concern persons must express gratitude.”
The Deputy Governor noted that capacity building of these widows to be in their own by way of skill acquisition is really a pragmatic way of handling the challenges faced by them, stressing that skills are employment chips that equipped people with work to earn a living.
He called on the beneficiaries of the training to make good use of the program by being attentive and teaching others towards alleviating their sufferings and contributing their own part towards empowering others.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Leo Irabor, represented by the Director, Civil, Military Relations, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Air Vice Marshal, A.B. Inuwa explained that the program is aimed at equipping the Veterans and the Military Widows with skills to alleviate their sufferings.
He said the training which would cover areas like; Poultry and Fish farming, Animal Husbandry, Irrigation, etc, is in collaboration with SMEDAN to make them access loans from Central Bank of Nigeria.
Air Vice Marshal Inuwa further disclosed that the training is organised for the entire six geopolitical zones, stressing that the one in Gombe covers the North East Subregion.
Jack Tasha, Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Media and Publicity, Deputy Governor’s Office.
