Defence Minister urges NGOs to support widows, orphans of fallen heroes

Defence Minister urges NGOs to support widows, orphans of fallen heroes

The Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), has pleaded with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to always cater for and support vulnerable widows and orphans of the country’s fallen heroes.

The Minister, made the appeal while speaking at a ministerial press briefing on the “2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration”.

The briefing was held at the National Defence College, in Abuja.

Gen. Magashi, applauded the works some NGOs are already doing to render care and necessary assistance to orphans and widows of the fallen heroes.

His words: “We deeply appreciate the good works some NGOs are doing to cater for these categories of citizens.

“It is expected that other NGOs will follow suit, and come to the aid of our fallen heroes’ distraught families.”

The Minister, noted that efforts of the services at providing scholarship for children of their personnel who died in active service can also be augmented by corporate organisations, saying it should be considered as a ‘worthy Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.’

While charging the press to give adequate coverage to the activities marking the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Gen. Magashi, implored the media to also air programmes that project the sacrifices of Nigerian veterans and heroes toward the socio-economic development of the nation.

Zayyan Gwandu
Resident Information Officer
Ministry of Defence