By Muhammad Amaan
The Nigerian Air Force Wives Association (NAFOWA) on Saturday, conducted free medical outreach and distributed food items to widows of NAF personnel who died in active service.
The humanitarian activities include medical outreach to members of the NAF family and widows of the fallen personnel.
Food items distributed include 25KG bag of rice, bag of semovita, carton of spaghetti, 4 litres gallon of palm oil and vegetable oil, beans and undisclosed cash in an envelope.
In her remarks, the President of NAFOWA, Mrs Rakiya Abubakar, said the NAFOWA Medical and Humanitarian outreach to the widows of NAF Fallen Heroes was in response to the prevailing economic challenges.
Abubakar said the gesture was also a testament to NAFOWA’s ongoing commitment to aiding those in need as well as to further One of implement the Chief of the Air Staff’s Command Philosophy as it concerns welfare.
She said the association as a non-governmental organisation, was deeply dedicated to promoting the well-being of its members, vulnerable women, and children within the society.
“In line with this mission, NAFOWA recently conducted a humanitarian outreach in Kano State, providing wheelchairs and essential food items to physically challenged individuals.
“Similarly, just last week, we carried out another impactful outreach at Emene Community of Enugu state, focusing on health care and provision of basic necessities including drugs and essential food items to women and children.
“Over the past six months, more than 1,350 individuals have benefited from NAFOWA’S compassionate initiatives.
“Today, NAFOWA in collaboration With Headquarters Nigerian Air Force extends its compassionate hand to 100 widows of Nigerian Air Force Fallen Heroes, offering free medical check-ups, essential services, as well as providing food items and a cash donation.
“These gestures serve as a poignant reminder to our sisters that we stand steadfastly with you today and always. It is our solemn pledge to continue supporting and dedicating ourselves to your welfare and well-being,” she said.
The NAFOWA president said the association would in coming days, extend the gesture to all widows of NAF Fallen Heroes resident outside Abuja through the various Chairpersons of NAF commands.
She however, solicited the collaboration and support of well-meaning and philanthropic individuals and organisations to join NAFOWA in putting smiles in the faces of the loved ones of the gallant personnel who paid the supreme price.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, commended the NAFOWA’s humanitarian efforts aimed at improving the lives of the underprivileged, especially widows, both within the armed forces and the society at large.
Air Marshall Abubakar said the association had recently distributed food palliative to over 1500 deserving individuals in Kano and Enugu States, in a bid to reduce poverty and alleviate harsh living conditions of the needy.
He said the outreach being conducted today, was directed at promoting the welfare of the NAF widows with a view to alleviating their suffering.
“It is also heart-warming to state that this outreach program resonates with one of the key enablers of my command philosophy and that is maintaining a highly motivated force by enhancing the welfare of personnel.
“This is because when serving personnel know that their families should be catered for, even when they are gone, then they will be motivated to perform their duties endlessly.
“Indeed we are in difficult times and it is it is imperative for well-meaning individuals and organisations to reach out to as many as I need assistance, especially women and children.
“Accordingly, this gesture today by NAFOWA is not only highly commendable but very timely as it complements the non-kinetic efforts of the NAF operations aimed at winning the hearts and minds of Nigerians.
“In moments like this we must recall those who have paid the ultimate price in the service of our fatherland,” he said.
The Representative of the NAF Widows, Mrs Grace Akpan, expressed their profound gratitude to the Almighty God for his faithfulness, for seeing them through and to NAFOWA for the love and kindness she had shown to the orphans and the widows.
Mrs Akpan also thanked the CAS for being a loving father and for having the interests of the deceased persons families at hearts.
She said the humanitarian support being given to them was quite encouraging, adding that the food items would go a long way in considering the current situation of the country.
