Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo says his administration has disbursed N7.5 million revolving loans to 52 widows of fallen heroes in the state.

Mr Akeredolu announced this at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration held at the Cenotaph, Alagbaka, Akure, on Saturday.

The governor said the gesture was to assist the widows of the fallen heroes so that they would less dependent on society for survival.

“Indeed, we are here today to appreciate all our fallen heroes, both military and civilians as well, who have shed their blood for the unity and peace of this country.

“They, indeed, fought a good fight for sustainability of their fatherland. We are here to say well done to them and those who have been favoured to be alive till today.

“They deserve our praises, they deserve our honours, and they deserve our appreciations. It would amount to doing them the greatest injustice, just to praise them with words alone, but it becomes valuable when it is backed up with our supports, financially and materially.

“Since we came on board in 2017, we have been touching the lives of a considerable number of the widows of the departed heroes, through our microcredit revolving loans.

“Our efforts in this direction would continue under this scheme and other packages as would be deemed fit to make these widows self-employed, self-reliant and independent through capacity training with start-up packages,” the governor said.

Mr Akeredolu, therefore, called on the people to complement the government’s efforts by donating generously towards the well-being of the legionnaires and also by employing the services of members who are still fit in productive enterprises.

The governor commended all security agencies including the Amotekun Corps, for their efforts at ensuring that there was peace in the state.

One of the beneficiaries, Taiwo Agoyi who said her husband died in 1992 in the Ejigbo C30 plane crash, appreciated the governor for the gesture.

“I am into agriculture business such as goat rearing, fish and chicken production. Today I got a N600,000 loan from government. Although, I was given N50,000 in the first instance, I got more when I paid back the first loan,” she said.

(NAN)