Akwa Ibom government has donated N100,000,000 in support of the Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurship Scheme for widows of Nigerian Legion in the state.
Akwa Ibom Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel announced this Friday at end of activities that marked 2021 Armed Forces Remembrances Day Celebration for the fallen heroes at Cenotaph, Udo Udoma, Uyo.
Emmanuel who was the special guest of honour said “I stand on behalf of the government to announce to widows of our fallen heroes that in addition to the things I have mentioned and what we are trying to do through our Social Welfare Ministry, that the State Government will further enhance the purse of your Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurship Scheme with N100,000,000.”
He reiterated that his administration has worked in close collaboration with the Armed Forces to improve the living condition of the soldiers at Ibagwa Army Barracks, Abak in Akwa Ibom State.
“In year 2019, we fulfilled a promise I made to remodel and renovate blocks of flats for the officers and men of the Battalion.
”The first phase of the renovated blocks of flats were handed over to the Battalion in 2019 and last year, we also handed over additional blocks of flats, bringing the total blocks of flats so far remodeled to 168 We have also done the water reticulation to improve the quality of water in the barrack.
”We are working hard to ensure that power and other quality of live amenities are upgraded in the barrack. We are determined God willing, to replicate this gesture across other layers of our security architecture,’’ the governor noted.
The state Chief Security Officer saluted the courage, bravery, gallantry, and unbridled spirit of patriotism the fallen heroes paid as an ultimate price for the unity, peace and integration of our Country, adding that they deserve commendation for the services to their fatherland.
”We are gathered here today on this hallowed ground that speaks to bravery, valour and unbridled spirit of patriotism to honour those great and gallant Nigerians whose blood and toll helped water the trees and fountains of our unity and cords of brotherhood.
”We owe these heroic Nigerians our eternal gratitude and deep appreciation for staying in the foxholes, denying themselves some of natures basic comforts and choosing death, which many unfortunately, eventually did succumb to.
”These heroes served our nation and offered their lives as ransom for the preservation of our territorial integrity or against internal and external aggressions,” he said.
Governor Emmanuel, however, advocated for the unity of Nigeria and a land of equal opportunities, saying let me call for an urgent need to lower the temperature of our national discourse. We should not fan the embers of division in our dear Nation.
”Let us restrain our impulses in agitating those things that only help to create chasms of alienation and division in our dear country.
”Let us create a nation of equal opportunities, where the building blocks remain our common humanity, where ethno-religious passions are subsumed by the ennobling ideals of tolerance and diversity of ideas, culture and ethos,’’ he advocated.
High point of the event included laying of wreaths by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, three-gun salute, release of pigeons and blowing of the last post.
