Calls for increased support to widows of Nigeria’s fallen military personnel took centre stage at the Golf and Tour Charity Tournament, where top security and government officials praised the event for using sports to drive social change.
Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Abdullahi Mustapha, said the tournament showed how golf could strengthen both teamwork and community support.
“This initiative is noble. When society lifts its vulnerable people, hopelessness reduces and everyone benefits,” he said.
He added that the Navy was expanding golf facilities across its bases to deepen officers’ engagement with local communities.
Lagos State Sports Commission Director-General, Lekan Fatodu, said the charity efforts—especially the group’s recent donation of 100 bags of rice to widows in military barracks—highlighted the power of sports as a tool for social intervention.
“Events like this prove that sports can close development gaps and support those who need it most. The state cannot do it alone, and partnerships like this are vital,” he said.
Tournament leader, AVM C.E. Aroriode (rtd), said supporting widows and vulnerable families had become a core part of the association’s mission during its tours across Nigeria and Africa.
Overall winner, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Anaryu, urged Nigerians and corporate groups to rally behind the cause, saying,
“This is more than golf—it’s a chance to stand with families who sacrificed for the country.”
The organisers say they hope the growing visibility of the tournament will attract more donors, expand outreach programmes, and strengthen support for military widows nationwide.
