Nigerian Legion Empowers 40 Widows, Trains 220 Commissionaires

The National Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Ms Grace Morenike Henry, has disclosed that the organisation has empowered 40 widows of deceased servicemen, catered to the welfare of military veterans, and trained over 220 new commissionaires, as part of its ongoing mandate to support Nigeria's ex-servicemen and their families.

Henry made the disclosure during the Legion's 62nd anniversary celebration held in Abuja, themed "62 Years of Courage, Commitment and Legacy of the Nigerian Armed Forces." The event brought together senior military officers, veterans, widows of fallen heroes, government officials, and other stakeholders from across the country.

Describing the Legion as a vital institution dedicated to promoting the welfare of ex-servicemen and women, Henry said the organisation continues to support families of fallen heroes while preserving the values of service, discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice. "The Legion has continued to serve as a bridge between veterans and society, ensuring that those who defend the nation are not forgotten," she said, paying tribute to veterans whose commitment and sacrifices have contributed to Nigeria's peace, security, and unity, while also honouring the memory of those who paid the ultimate price in service to the country.

As part of the anniversary activities, widows and retired officers were empowered with grinding machines, sewing machines, and cash rewards aimed at improving their livelihoods and promoting self-reliance, while foodstuffs and cash were distributed to elderly veterans. "Our goal is to create a better life for veterans, restore respect, dignity, pride and honour the families of fallen heroes, and support living legendary veterans," Henry said.

Beyond the empowerment items distributed at the anniversary, Henry disclosed that the Legion has also trained 283 military veterans in disaster management and safety science, in collaboration with the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science (IDMSS), alongside its continued empowerment of widows with grinding and tailoring machines aimed at making them self-reliant and independent.

Henry used the occasion to call on government, the private sector, and other stakeholders to join in supporting the welfare of veterans and families of fallen servicemen. She further advocated for legislative reform, calling for the existing Nigerian Legion Act to be amended and strengthened to enhance the welfare and representation of ex-servicemen. Among her specific recommendations were the establishment of a veterans' federation of Nigeria and the creation of a dedicated Ministry of Veterans Affairs, in line with international best practice, alongside broader administrative reforms aimed at elevating the organisation to global standards.

On the newly trained commissionaires, Henry stressed that they are expected to uphold the values instilled during their training and maintain exemplary conduct, warning that any deviation could lead to outright dismissal. She cautioned the new corps members against criminal activities and reminded them not to equate their paramilitary training with military status, emphasising the distinct role the corps is meant to play.

Beyond her remarks on the anniversary activities, Henry also spoke about the Legion's recent international engagements. She represented Nigeria at the 105th anniversary of the Warriors Day Parade at the Canadian National Exhibition grounds in Toronto, Canada, describing the event as historic and themed "Supporting Our Veterans Since First World War," marking over a century of global solidarity, remembrance, and welfare for military veterans. She said the parade brought together veterans, military personnel, and contingent leaders from various nations to honour the sacrifices of wartime heroes, and that the international partnership was key to upgrading local veteran healthcare and rehabilitation frameworks.

Henry also disclosed that the Nigerian Legion had engaged with its global counterpart, the Royal British Legion in London, to modernise its operations and adopt universally accepted administrative practices. "Nigeria Legion and Royal British Legion drive reforms to elevate the organisation to a global standard. The visit was to build lasting cooperation and a strategic partnership between the two organisations," she said, adding that the Legion would continue adopting international standards and best practices to further improve the welfare of Armed Forces veterans, with a dual mandate to serve as community resilience professionals while applying specialised knowledge in service to the nation.