Brothers Across Nigeria Consoles Bereaved Families with Cash, Welfare Packages

…Group active, carries out humanitarian services in 50 countries across the world

Bereaved family members of the Brothers Across Nigeria (BAN), also known as the Buccaneers Confraternity (BC), were recently given millions of naira and other welfare packages by the confraternity, to cater for the families these departed members left behind.

The global President of BAN, Azubuike Onowu, told journalists yesterday in Abuja that the gesture was to provide some sort of succour for the immediate families of their members who have passed on.

According to him, “Over N25 million was contributed by members, and the funds were evenly distributed to the three deceased members with the assurances that the body would continue to cater for the welfare of their members.”

The leader of the noble group further disclosed that welfarism is the bedrock of the confraternity, as its motto is hinged on ‘Brothers Helping Brothers (Brother Deliver Brother)’.

Onowu said: “What we are doing is part of our improved welfare policy. This is what we give to our departed brothers’ families. We lost a couple of brothers between September 2022, when I assumed office, and now. Thus, we are doing three now; I did one in Benin-city, Edo State, and two in Abuja, and the same amount was handed over to the next of kin.

“Normally, when we lose a member, the association tasks every member. We have a stipulated amount we pay. We give a timeline, and at the end of the day, we pay out.

“Like this one, we realised a little above N26 million. We divided it into three equal parts. Each family gets the sum of N8, 956, 000 (Eight million, nine hundred and fifty-six thousand naira). You may want to ask why the fraction? The reason is simple, it is because what was realised from the drive is what we are giving to them.

“The sole purpose of the contribution was for welfare, so the money realised would be evenly distributed among the trio.

“So, in our first quarterly conference/meeting, we held in Abuja in March this year, I grouped the first three members that passed, and that is why she (Mrs. Caroline Aghedo) is among them. Aside from the three beneficiaries, there were also others who got N1 million each for the upkeep of their children. The full list of beneficiaries: Mrs. Igho Caroline Aghedo got N8,956,000; Meagan Yoma Ighedo (N8,956,000); Nkechi Maureen Obi (N8,956,000); Ogbogho Oveno Darlington (N1,000,000), while Ugwi Rashidat got N1,000,000.”

The president disclosed that: “We have our next quarterly conference/meeting in August, but that will be in the United Kingdom. I will kick-start the second phase of the disbursement. I believe that by the time I am handing over, which is in September next year, I would have cleared it out.”

Onowu added: “It is not only when people die that we pay out welfare, we also celebrate the living. We have a commission that empowers our brothers (members).

“For instance, if you have any business you want to execute and you do not have sufficient funds, you can apply to the BAN Empowerment Commission; your application would be considered and they will give you the needed funds. It is interest-free and collateral-free. We believe that being a member is enough collateral.

“It spans for one year depending on the amount you requested, if it is less than N1 million, it is for one year, while five million is beyond one year.”

He disclosed that BAN also has a policy for critical illness, adding that: “This year alone, we have given out over N12 million for critical illnesses.

“Beyond our members, BAN as an organisation is also known for its contributions to society via our numerous Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outings in Nigeria and internationally, as well as our statements on critical issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and humanity.

He revealed that Buccaneers Confraternity (BC) had been in existence since 1972 as a campus organisation, which has grown over the years into an international organisation operating in over 50 countries across the world, adding that to keep up with BAN activities on social media, any interested person can check Twitter: @banbchq and Facebook: @banbchq