The Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle (popularly known as Sego), has empowered 28 widows of deceased union members with a total of N42 million, giving each widow N1.5 million in financial support.
The initiative, held at the NURTW Secretariat in Agege, formed part of the activities marking Adekunle’s first anniversary in office.
Speaking at the event, Adekunle explained that although the gesture is not captured in the union’s constitution, he considered it necessary to restore hope and provide meaningful support to the widows of late NURTW members.
He highlighted some of his achievements in the past year, including the payment of an inherited N315 million debt, provision of a generator to enhance power supply at the secretariat, scholarship awards to secondary school students, and sponsorship of members for the hajj pilgrimage.
Former National Vice President of the union, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, praised the initiative, describing it as an improvement on previous welfare programmes that mainly targeted members involved in accidents.
NURTW Lagos State Secretary, Usman Teslim, noted that this was the second edition of the widows’ support scheme under the current administration. He added that Adekunle has consistently extended help to both union members and non-members as part of his personal commitment to philanthropy.
“Aside from this initiative, he has been giving assistance to members without publicising it, even to those who are not union members. Helping and supporting people has always been his way of life,” Teslim said.
Teslim also revealed that the union plans to construct three primary health centres across the three senatorial districts of Lagos State to improve residents’ access to healthcare.
Beneficiaries of the empowerment programme, including Omolara Olanrewaju and Adejoke Ayegbola, expressed gratitude for the financial support. Ayegbola noted that the donation would significantly assist her, especially as she has been without support since her husband’s death earlier this year.
