- Offers scholarship to 111 children of fallen soldiers
Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja
A group under the auspices of the Fallen Heroes Project, said it plans to establish the first trauma centre in the North-east, starting with Maiduguri.
It also revealed that it has offered scholarship to 111 children of the fallen heroes nationwide as part of its intervention programme aimed at ensuring that the families of the fallen heroes are catered for.
The National Coordinator of the Project, Dr. Kenneth Kalu disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy call to the Corp Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi.
Kalu noted that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes who died at the battle front protecting this country had further reinvigorated the need for the campaign.
He promised that his team in a matter of days would pay a visit to the families of Col. Abu Ali and the six other soldiers that died some days ago during a Book Haram ambush to commemorate with them.
Kalu stated categorically that, “the money that is generated from the emblem goes to the Nigerian Legion, both the donations and the sponsorship the organisation is seeking goes to the legion’s account and it would be used to take care of the children of the fallen soldiers, as well as take care of the injured ex-service men,”
“I like to announce to you that organisation is in partnership with the Nigerian Legion and as of course approved by the Minister of Defence, we are doing all things possible so that by next year you will be seeing the first trauma centre in the North -East, starting with Maiduguri,”
“We have also given out scholarship to 111 children of the fallen heroes , three from each State of the federation, one widow with empowerment equipment and by next year we would be launching the Nigeria legion scholarship, that would be available to all indigent child that cannot take care of themselves across the nation and the children of the fallen heroes,” Kalu stated.
The National Coordinator lamented that as at 2015 armed forces remembrance day celebration only 17,000 out of 170 million Nigerians wear emblem, stressing that it was not good enough.
He there urged the agency to join in the campaign to remember the gallant soldiers and also to direct NURTW, Road Transport Employers Association, NARTO among others to wear emblem to celebrate the stained soldiers.
Responding, Oyeyemi who was represented by the Deputy Corp Marshal, Mr. Charles Theophilous commended the group, saying it qas a good course to remember those that died protecting this country.
He promised to direct the staff of the agency to wear emblem as the agency’s own way of supporting the military and the federal government.
Oyeyemi however noted that while it was necessary or celebrate fallen heroes, the retired personnel should not be forgotten
