IBI Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in collaboration with Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA), on Saturday, donated gift packs to some military veterans in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The foundation, through its Veteran Outreach Initiative (VOI), carried out the outreach in commemoration of the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration.
The Chief Executive Officer/Founder of IBI Foundation, retired Lt.-Cdr. Ibrahim Baba-Inna, said the foundation commenced the veterans outreach on Jan. 15, adding that over 200 beneficiaries had been reached nationwide.
Baba-Inna said the initiative was borne out of the desire to reach out to a group of people that had dedicated their lives to defending their country.
Baba-Inna said the main goal of the foundation was to alleviate the sufferings of the vulnerable, less privileged and disabled in the society, believing in impacting positively in the lives of youths and creating clearer and secure future for the less fortunate.
According to him, the foundation also advocates for the achievements of the sustainable development goals and ensures through its programmes, that no one is left behind among other initiatives.
He said the veterans outreach initiative was designed to celebrate the Armed Forces Remembrance Day with some selected veterans to deliver gift boxes to them, to appreciate them for their selfless service and sacrifice to the nation.
Baba-Inna said after he left the service, he discovered that the society did not care to remember the services and sacrifice of the ex-servicemen by appreciating the living veterans.
He said he decided to initiate the programme instead of sit back and be complaining, grumbling and doing nothing, adding that he had written to the various services for support to drive the process.
“We are here today to celebrate in commemoration of Armed Forces Remembrance Day through the Veterans Outreach initiative.
“This initiative is to celebrate our veterans who have served our country selflessly, who have put their lives on the line, so many of whom have died in the service of our nation.
“So, I thought of how we can give back to veterans, and that’s why we’re able to launch the Veterans Outreach initiative on Jan. 15, same day as Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
“Today is the last day of the initiative and we have been able to visit about seven states including Bauchi, Adamawa, Cross River, Kebbi, Zaria (Kaduna) and here in Nasarawa.
“It’s all about celebrating veterans, we give them gift boxes to appreciate them for their selfless service and to tell them that we remember their sacrifice,” he said.
Baba-Inna thanked the Chief of the Naval Staff and his wife for providing over 200 gift boxes that had been distributed nationwide.
The Vice President of NOWA, Zuweira Garba, said the president of the association, Hajia Nana-Aisha Gambo, was passionate about supporting the veterans and their families.
Garba said that NOWA as a humanitarian organisation remained committed to supporting the needy and less privilege as well as those who had dedicated their lives to the service of the nation.
She pledged the commitment of the association to the veterans outreach imitative of IBI foundation, saying that better programme would be initiated for the retired men and women of the armed forces.
She also commended the efforts of the foundation toward reaching out to the veterans.
A beneficiary, retired Master Warrant Officer Muhammed Dogomo, commended the foundation for the initiative and urged them to bring in more of their colleagues to benefit the same gesture.
Dogomo, however, pleaded with NOWA leaders to intercede on their behalf concerning access to healthcare services as retirees.
He explained that the scope of the coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for retired military personnel was limited, adding that NHIS did not cover high blood pressure for them.
According to him, there is need to expand the scope considering their age in retirement.
Another beneficiary, retired Master Warrant Officer Patrick Kigbu, thanked NOWA and IBI foundation for the gift and recognition of their service to the nation.
Kigbu said the visit only reminded them that the society had not forgotten them, urging that more should be done to give them sense of belonging in the society.
He, however, urged the association to assist them in the area of empowerment to be able to engage in productive ventures like farming, adding that some of them are only retired but not tired. (NAN)
