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The interim National President of the Military Widows Association, Olubunmi Ese-Okiti, has urged members who have yet to receive their late husbands’ insurance benefits to remain patient.
Ese-Okiti acknowledged that while some widows have begun receiving their payments, many others are still awaiting theirs.
Speaking at an empowerment programme for military widows on Friday, organized by the Support Troops Foundation, she assured the gathering that the military has promised to expedite the remaining payments.
She said, “Some of them have been complaining that they haven’t received their insurance payouts. But payments have begun just recently. The Armed Forces have assured us they are working to ensure that more widows receive their benefits. We ask for patience. You know our widows want everything immediately because we are often left to fend for ourselves. So, we are appealing to the government.”
Ese-Okiti also expressed her gratitude to the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, for her unwavering support of military widows.
She said, “Mrs. Tinubu has been doing a lot for us. She has provided various forms of assistance and has organized empowerment programmes for military widows. We are thankful for her generosity, and we pray that God blesses her.”
In addition, she praised the wives of the service chiefs for their continued efforts to support the widows.
The programme’s coordinator, Ujinika Mba-Kalu, emphasized the importance of recognizing the sacrifices of fallen soldiers.
She said, “This programme was organized to honour the sacrifices of our fallen heroes and to support their families, especially the widows and children.
“Often, these widows become the sole breadwinners when their husbands pass away, leaving them with the daunting task of raising children alone. Many of these widows are young, some as young as 19 years old. The founder of this foundation grew up in a military family and knew firsthand the challenges of living in a barracks and potentially growing up without a father.”
