By Olayemi Esan (Credit: Radio NigeriaNorthEast)
The Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, NAOWA, has presented relief items and cash assistance to fifty widows of army personnel who lost their lives in the counter insurgency operation in the North East.
Presenting the palliatives at Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri on behalf of the association, NAOWA President, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya implored the widows to learn skills that will improve their means of livelihood.
“We also have vocational centres that we use to train them and if you listen to my address, we said that all of those of them that have skills, we are willing to give them equipment or machinery that will help them enhance their skill,” She said.
Mrs. Yahaya sympathized with the widows over the loss of their spouses and prayed for the repose of their souls and for lasting peace to reign in the country.
Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Blessing Edet and Maimuna Ishaku on behalf of other widows thanked the wife of Chief of Army Staff and the association for identifying with them in their moment of need.
Meanwhile, the President of NAOWA and her entourage earlier paid a courtesy visit on the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai, Maj.- Gen. Christopher Musa where she promised to improve the education standard and vocational skills to members of barrack community.
The Theatre Commander described Mrs Yahaya’s visit as a morale booster for the troops, explaining that more than 30,000 combatants and non-combatants Boko Haram insurgents have surrendered in the last six months.
“We are very grateful, and we want to assure you that we want to make our Chief of Army Staff proud; and the only way we can do that is by ending this insurgency and we know that God is with us,” General Musa assured.
The NOAWA president later visited recuperating and wounded-in-action troops at 7 Division hospital, and appreciated their sacrifice and commitment to protecting the territorial integrity of the nation.
She also presented them with cash assistance.
