The Nigeria legion in collaboration with Green Heroes Foundation has honoured over thirty veterans including a 109 years old Nigerian Army Veteran for their selfless services to humanity.
The 109 years old Nigerian Army Veteran, Mr. Melee Ture, fought the World War I and the civil war and was also a Star Awardee at the event, theme, “Celebrating Our Heroes”
The National Chairman of the Legion, retired Major-General, Abdulmalik Jibril, who gave out the various honors in Abuja, the nation’s capital said the awardees were being honoured because of the role they played during the wars which brought honour to Nigeria.
General Jibril, said the whole essence of the event is to celebrate and support the Nigerian Armed Forced war veterans.
“The event is designed to specifically recognise retired officers and men who have distinguished themselves during the conflict which brought honour and privilege to Nigeria”
“We are here to celebrate our heroes by bring them together and reassuring them we still appreciate their sacrifices through securing the territory” he said.
According to him, the veterans put their lives on hold while their desires and aspirations were suspended to satisfy the cause of the nation and desires of its citizens.
“Those honoured today are veterans of the Civil war, veterans of ECOMOG, wars both in Liberia and Sierra-Leone, the Bakasi veterans and veterans who participated in the insurgency and are out of service.
“Lot of them made the supreme sacrifice and didn’t come back and some of them have been inflicted with serious injuries that is life threatening”
“Thank God, some of them are here. We bring them together to reassure them that giving their life for the nation cannot be forgotten” He emphasised.
General Jibril, while speaking on Pa Ture’s Award, said “we decided to honour Pa Ture because he has fought the first and Second World War and he is still alive, walking with his two feet although supported with stick. He retired in 1978,”
The Keynote speaker, retired Major-General IBM Haruna, said the legion was formed in 1964 to adequately represent and take care of veteran’s need.
Major-General Haruna, emphasised on the needs of the veterans, saying they all have the right to be sustained and their families to be well taken care of.
“The Legion is an umbrella Association that carter for all the Military Veteran Association and is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of families of fallen heroes like their widows, orphans and all those who depended on them for survival”
“It is commendable that we are now burdened about the safety of the families they left behind”
“Therefore, it is necessary to form synergy with other sister institutions to ensure our veterans and heroes are well taken care of,” he said.
The retired general however, called on all legislators, opinion makers and traditional rulers to engage the politicians about making sure that their manifestos and promises were gear towards assisting the families of the country’s past heroes.
Some of those honoured at the 2022 Award ceremony were, retired Air Marshal Mohammed Umar, retired AVM Lucky Ararile, retired Sgt. Ogunde Olasunkanmi, Major- general Mohammed Aliyu, Brigadier-General Bright Ateke, Mohammed Auwalu, a 28 years soldier and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa for her role in Bakasi among others.
One of the Awardee Ita-Giwa appreciated the organisers and advised those honoured to sustain the gesture.
Green Heroes Foundation is a Non-Governmental Organization that is wholly run by retired military personnel with specialist supports from some well-meaning individuals and organizations. The Foundation is designed to cater and support Nigerian Armed Forced war veterans as well as provide for their families in times of need.
Olusola Akintonde
