A non-governmental organization, the Defend Trust Fund Campaign, has launched an initiative to raise ₦100 billion for the welfare of Nigerian military and paramilitary families.
The fund aims to provide scholarships, entrepreneurship grants, vocational training, and psychosocial support to the spouses and children of personnel who are serving or have died in the line of duty. The campaign plans to collect 100,000 citizen signatures to push for the establishment of this national endowment.
Lead Advocate Mohammed Thompson stated that the initiative is designed to “restore dignity and hope” to families who often face hardship and neglect after losing their breadwinners. He shared that his own experience growing up in a military barracks inspired the deeply personal campaign, having witnessed families struggle after a tragedy.
The campaign, which will run until January 2026, is being launched in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to drive national awareness and advocacy.
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