Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Monday disbursed N30 million in micro-credit revolving loans to no fewer than 66 widows of fallen heroes during Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
According to the governor, the gesture was made to aid the businesses of the women who had become the breadwinners of their families since the demise of their husbands.
Speaking at the Cenotaph in Alagbaka, Akure, the state capital, where the cheques were presented to the widows, Aiyedatiwa disclosed that the loans were disbursed at zero interest.
He maintained that the move was made to ensure that the burden of repayment would not add to the economic challenges faced by the widows.
The governor assured them of the government’s commitment to enhancing accessibility to the loan while urging the beneficiaries to ensure the sustainability of the initiative by adhering to timely repayment.
“It is the plan of our administration to continually put smiles on the faces of the widows and children of the fallen heroes. We, therefore, crave your understanding and support to make it sustainable.”
“As we round off this year’s celebration, I want to seize this opportunity to commend the efforts of all stakeholders, both military and civilian, who have devoted their time and resources to collaborate and make today’s event a reality,” he said.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
