By Brig Gen SK Usman
The President, Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs. Salamatu Yahaya has on Friday, 12 August 2022 reiterated the association's commitment in improving the welfare of the barracks community and also giving members training and opportunity to contribute their own quota to human and national development.
Mrs Yahaya made this assertion during a courtesy visit to the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force (JTF) North East (NE) Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Christopher Musa at the Theatre Headquarters in Maiduguri. While appreciating the Theatre Commander for the warm reception accorded them, she also urged young officers to encourage their wives to join the association early enough.
She further disclosed that the visit was aimed at appreciating the Theatre Commander for his enormous support for the association particularly to the completion of 7 Division NAOWA Secretariat which she commissioned in Maimalari Military Cantonment few minutes prior to her visit to the Theatre headquarters.
In his remarks, Gen Musa stated that the Theatre is only building on the legacies of his predecessor, the former Theatre Commander OPHK and the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya and will continue to support any project geared towards improving the welfare of the barracks community.
Equally, the Theatre Commander commended the president for her innovative ideas and drive towards developing the association.
In the meantime, Mrs. Salamatu Yahaya has commissioned a primary school and secretariat complexes at the 7 Division, Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, in Borno state
Besides the commissioning of projects, Salamatu in collaboration with the Chairperson NAOWA 7 Division, Mrs. Safiya Shaibu also engaged and presented 20 women who were trained and empowered in skills acquisitions and trades with each of them given a Certificate, starter packs and a token.
The training of women was funded by the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa with the distribution of starter-packs for baking, pastry, make-ups and veil-making.
The engagement and empowerment of the targeted women, are to restore their livelihoods in the barracks.
The President Nigerian Army Officers' Wives Association (NAOWA) Mrs Salamatu F Yahaya has showered encomiums on the Chairperson NAOWA 7 Division Chapter, Mrs Safiyya Shaibu for strengthening and standardizing NAOWA Assets in Maimalari barracks with the completion of a block of 2 classrooms and a NAOWA Secretariat.
Mrs Yahaya added that, the actualisation of the projects shows the premium NAOWA places on quality education and provision of conducive and befitting environment for teaching, learning and administration.
While commending the support of the Coordinator NAOWA Theatre Command Operation HADIN KAI Mrs Oghogho Christopher Musa for her support and contributions, Mrs Yahaya applauded the immediate past chairperson NAOWA 7 Division Chapter, Mrs Mariam Eyitayo for initiating the projects and the current Chairperson NAOWA 7 Division Chapter, Mrs Safiyya Shaibu for taking up and completing the projects and stressed that the unity of purpose demonstrated by Mrs Shaibu is worth emulating by all members of NAOWA.
Highlights of the NAOWA President's visit to Maiduguri, are courtesy visits to the Theatre Commander Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), Major General Christopher Musa, the General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 OPHK, Major General Waidi Shaibu. Other Highlights include visit to Wounded in Action soldiers, presentation of certificates and starter packs to graduands of skills acquisition programmes and presentation of medical equipment to NAOWA 7 Division Medical Services and Hospital.
The President and her entourage also visited the Palace of His Royal Highness, the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Dr Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi CFR
