Nigerian Legion national chairman, Grace Henry, has urged veterans to take active roles in community security, as the organisation empowered 40 widows of fallen heroes with tailoring and grinding machines.

Ms Henry gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the empowerment programme and induction of ex-servicemen into the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Sciences (IDMSS).

The chairman said that the programme reflected her vision of restoring dignity to veterans and the families of military personnel who died in service.

She described the empowerment and induction as a dual strategy to tackle welfare gaps and insecurity across the country.

“Today, we are gathered here to empower about 40 widows; 20 widows will be lucky to get grinding machines and 20 others will be lucky to get tailoring machines and other palliatives,” she said.

She noted that while the number was small compared to the population of veterans and widows, the initiative would be continuous until it reached more beneficiaries.

Speaking about training for the veterans, the chairman explained that the collaboration with IDMSS was designed to train them as safety managers to enhance community security.

She said the free courses offered by the institute would equip ex-servicemen to respond effectively when the unexpected happened.

“Today, many of our colleagues and husbands are dying on the battlefield, leaving their wives and children with little or nothing.

“It is the duty of each and every one of us to assist the families of fallen heroes,” Ms Henry said.

She disclosed that the Legion currently had no statutory funding but was engaging stakeholders to secure government and private support.

The Legion leader added that improved funding would make the Legion more relevant to veterans and widows of fallen heroes.

The chairman congratulated veterans who completed the IDMSS course and were inducted as safety managers.

She charged them to key into the federal government’s agenda to secure communities, declaring that “it is no longer time to play the I don’t care role with security.”

“Remember, it is said once a soldier, always a soldier, so let us be soldiers indeed, anywhere, anytime,” Ms Henry told the inductees.

She added that the Legion was adopting international best practices to improve its relevance to all Armed Forces veterans.

Ms Henry thanked President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, and the director-general of the SSS for their support to veterans nationwide.

She said their guidance had made the Legion a true home for all military veterans.

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, expressed the federal government’s appreciation for the contributions of ex-servicemen and women to national peace, unity, and stability.

Represented by his special adviser on maritime security, Hassanah Imran, Mr Bello said, “The Legion’s role in supporting internal security efforts, community engagement, remembrance activities, and youth mentorship is invaluable.

“Your presence across the federation continues to highlight the enduring relevance of veterans in nation-building.”

He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Nigerian Legion, particularly in veterans’ welfare, capacity building, economic empowerment, and institutional development.

“Government remains mindful of the challenges facing veterans and is working closely with relevant stakeholders to enhance welfare frameworks and sustainable support systems,” he said.

The president of the IDMSS, Mala Daura, represented by Hauwa Abdullahi, said the induction was the institute’s contribution to that national effort.

“By empowering you, we strengthen our communities. By supporting you, we support national security, national development, and all activities of government directed toward the common good.” 

Dignitaries at the occasion include representatives of the Minister of Defence, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, the service chiefs, the Director-General of the Directorate of State Service, among others. 

(NAN)