The Female Military Veterans Association (FMVA) has raised concerns about the neglect of military women after their service to the nation.
The association added that military women are often forgotten and retire into oblivion.
The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the association, Major General Abimbola Amusu, spoke at the inauguration of FMVA in Abuja on Monday.
Highlighting the struggles and sacrifices of retired female military personnel, she noted that many were left without recognition after their service in the military.
“After the world wars, many of these servicewomen were forgotten, and there is little record of their contributions to the war effort.
“Some were disabled, some left and had no homes to go back to, and for some who paid the supreme price, their families only breathed silently”, Amusu said.
Amusu also pointed out the personal sacrifices female soldiers make, including postponing marriage, children, and education, as well as dealing with the long-term consequences of their service, such as physical and mental disabilities.
She emphasised that while female soldiers work alongside their male counterparts, they often fade into obscurity after retirement, lacking the support and recognition they deserve.
“Now, just when training and working alongside their male counterparts while in service, female military women appear to retire into oblivion, and this explains why we should remember some female veterans.
“We may be retired, but we are not tired. We are committed to using this forum to celebrate one another, engage in intellectual discourse, and strengthen our collective voice”, Amusu added.
The national coordinator of the association, Morenike Grace, also said female veterans, particularly those who are single mothers, lack support.
While encouraging the veterans, Amusu stated that female veterans should be proud of who they are.
“Don’t be shy of what you have, don’t allow your thoughts or your thinking to bring you down, you can go far. We are still the root of security in the nation”, she stated.
