Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has disbursed the sum of ₦250 million for the empowerment of military and paramilitary widows in the state, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to compassionate and inclusive governance under his ARISE Agenda.
The disbursement ceremony was held on Friday, December 19, 2025, at the Women Development Centre, Uyo, and was implemented through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Inibehe Etukudo, described the initiative as a clear expression of Governor Eno’s empathy and support for widows.
She noted that the intervention was not only a fulfilment of promise but strong reassurance that the sacrifices of fallen heroes would never be forgotten.
The commissioner commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sustaining the annual “Remembrance Day”, while also praising Governor Eno for his consistent support to widows and women’s advancement, which she described as core pillars of the ARISE Agenda.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry disclosed that, beneficiaries were already receiving payment alerts during the programme assuring that, due verification processes were carried out and urged recipients to make prudent use of the funds for sustainable empowerment.
In her remarks, the State Chairperson of the Military Widows Association, Comrade Grace John Aniema, described the intervention as the first of its kind for military widows in Akwa Ibom State, expressing profound gratitude to the governor for the timely support.
Goodwill messages from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, and the State Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, Comrade Edumoh Ekerendu, described the gesture as a noble recognition of the sacrifices made by fallen heroes and the families they left behind.
A major highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of ₦150 million cheques to the Military Widows Association and ₦100 million to the Paramilitary Widows Association.
The programme also featured prayers for the fallen heroes, while the event was attended by top security officials, as well as representatives of military and paramilitary agencies.
