The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has officially launched the Armed Forces of Nigeria Personnel/Veterans Online Discount Shop, a digital welfare initiative designed to enable serving, retired personnel and their families to access essential goods at discounted prices.
This was contained in a statement on Thursday by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba.
Serving as Special Guest of Honour at the launch held at Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Senator Akume described the initiative as a practical intervention to support the welfare of members of the Armed Forces and their families. He noted that military welfare goes beyond occupational amenities, stressing that the wellbeing of personnel and their families remains essential to sustaining a motivated and resilient Armed Forces.
The SGF commended Defence Headquarters and Zinox Group for the partnership, noting that it demonstrated the potential of leveraging digital technology to address contemporary welfare needs. He emphasised the importance of ensuring transparency, reliability and continuous improvement of the platform, adding that its credibility would ultimately be determined by the quality of service and tangible benefits delivered to beneficiaries.
He particularly welcomed the inclusion of veterans and their families in the scheme, observing that their contributions and sacrifices to national service deserved continued recognition and support. He urged all stakeholders to sustain the initiative and ensure that eligible beneficiaries derive maximum value from it.
In his remarks, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, described the online discount shop as a practical expression of the Armed Forces’ commitment to personnel welfare. He said the initiative goes beyond providing discounted goods and represents a people-centred approach to improving livelihoods through digital innovation and strategic partnerships.
The CDS disclosed that Defence Headquarters would develop a robust database, leveraging existing Service platforms and pension records, to facilitate effective implementation of the scheme. He further revealed plans to expand the platform to accommodate additional vendors, including suppliers of building materials and other essential commodities, as well as establish physical outlets in the future.
The Chairman of Zinox Group, Chief Dr Leo Stan Ekeh, represented by the company’s General Manager, Corporate Governance, Mr Reginald Obiako, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to support the initiative. He described the partnership as Zinox Group’s contribution towards recognising the sacrifices and dedication of members of the Armed Forces.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chief of Transformation and Innovation, Defence Headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Idris Alhaji, stated that the Defence Discount Scheme was one of several welfare initiatives being introduced under the Chief of Defence Staff’s Soldier First leadership principle.
A major highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Defence Headquarters and Zinox Group to formalise the partnership. The agreement was signed by General Oluyede on behalf of the Armed Forces and Chief Ekeh on behalf of Zinox Group.