A national campaign has been launched to push for the establishment of the Defence Families Empowerment and Development (DEFEND) Trust Fund, aimed at supporting families of Nigeria’s military and paramilitary personnel who have either died or been injured in the line of duty.
The campaign, tagged “100,000 Voices in 100 Days”, was unveiled on Monday in Kaduna as a citizens-led initiative to gather 100,000 signatures between October 6, 2025, and January 14, 2026, to rally public and policy support for the proposed fund.
According to the organisers, the DEFEND Trust Fund will provide scholarships, entrepreneurship and vocational training, cooperative financing, and psychosocial support for the families of serving and fallen officers across the armed forces and paramilitary services.
Lead Advocate of the campaign, Mohammed Usman Thompson, said the initiative was inspired by years of witnessing the hardship faced by families left behind by deceased officers, especially non-commissioned personnel.
“I grew up in military barracks where I saw more obituary pictures than birthday or wedding pictures combined. I have watched families thrown out of their homes after the death of their breadwinner in active duty. I have seen too many officers’ families live in abject poverty because of meagre salaries and the absence of structured support”.
“This campaign is about justice, dignity, and hope for the families behind the uniform,” he added.
He explained that many bereaved families of security officers continue to face economic hardship, limited access to education, and even eviction from barracks, despite the sacrifices made by their loved ones in defending the nation.
Thompson further noted that the initiative aligns with the current administration’s commitment to economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and support for vulnerable groups, adding that the fund would provide a structured national mechanism to uplift long-neglected service families.
Thompson also cited similar trust fund models in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and United States, urging Nigeria to adopt a comparable framework to institutionalise support for service families.
“We recognise the critical role of the media in shaping national conversations and driving policy. Through this partnership, we aim to galvanize nationwide awareness and mobilize voices to make this initiative a reality,” he said.
The campaign is being launched in partnership with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna State Council, to harness the influence of the media in shaping national discourse and driving policy reform.
