The President, Defence and Police Officers' Wives Association (DEPOWA) and wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Barr (Mrs) Vickie Irabor has commended all military, Police Officers wives across the country for supporting, encouraging and praying for their husbands and the Armed forces of Nigeria of its operational engagements in all six geo-political zones, in year 2022.
Barr (Mrs) Vickie Irabor on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Naval Staff gave the commendation at a Send Forth Dinner Party in honour of past DEPOWA's Coordinators on Saturday 18th December 2022 at General Olonisakin Multipurpose Hall, DEPOWA School, Mogadishu Cantonment Abuja.
Irabor said the Muslim sisters had on Friday, gone to the mosque at Mogadishu Cantonment while the Christians were also at the Protestant church on Sunday to thank God for helping and seeing them through in their activities during the year.
She said that DEPOWA and services’ wives associations had a eventful year with successful activities in line with their objectives.
“We are particularly grateful to God for the life of one of us, Mrs Omolara Tuwase, Coordinator of Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, who was kidnapped in the Kaduna-bound train on March 28 and released on July 9 after spending 104 days in captivity.
“You can now understand why we went all out to thank God at the mosque and Church at the weekend to show our appreciation to God for his faithfulness towards DEPOWA throughout this year.
Barr (Mrs) Vickie Irabor while expressing her appreciation to God and to all members of the association said, the victory witnessed throughout this year, 2022, in the Theatre of Operations across the country is unprecedented and this effort has been sustained by gallant troops leading to relative peace in hitherto troubled parts of the country.
The DEPOWA President noted that, DEPOWA conducted series of non-kinetic activities within and outside the barracks in support of the military offensive campaigns against terrorists and other criminal elements.
"The President, DEPOWA, alongside with presidents of NAOWA, NAFOWA, NOWA, POWA visited the frontline at the theatre of Operation Hadin Kai to encourage our husbands. "We visited the wounding soldiers at Maimalari Millitary Hospital as well as reach out to the widows of fallen heroes.
"Again DEPOWA had a epoch ground breaking ceremony of the nobel Armed Forces PTSD Centre at Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment Giri, Abuja. Several outreaches to the widows and orphans in our military community were carried out.
She added that, last week, DEPOWA graduated 126 students of the DEPOWA Skills Acquisition Centre, amongst whom were windows of our falling heroes, they were in power, the starter packs and one year rent to take off their businesses.
"All these were achieved to support our husbands in the non-kinetic operations.
Be assured that DEPOWA will continue to galvanise public support towards military operations until total peace is restored, she said.
The DEPOWA President pleaded with Nigerian to keep trusting the armed forces in this regard, urged all military wives to continue to keep the home front as this is their primary responsibility as Military Wives and also, continue to be proud that they are married to a gentleman officer, whether serving or retired, "we are Unique women".
In her remarks, the mother of the day, Mrs Esther Balley urged members of the DEPOWA to try and take time to plan because time is very important in life as people plan their programmes to achieve success.
She also tasked them to continue to live in unity stop fighting one another by being friends and working together to better our nation.
SpyeTV News reports that, Four former DEPOWA Coordinators were honoured at the Send Forth Dinner Party in honour of past DEPOWA's Coordinators ceremony. They are; Former Coordinator NDCOWA, Dr (Mrs) Feyisayo Yvonne, Former Coordinator NAFROWA, Hajiya Nabila Idris Idoko, Former Coordinator AFCSOWA Mrs Oluwasola Afolake Alade and Former Coordinator DRBDOWA Pastor Mrs Judith Iyabode Temilola, Adesuwa Uzezi JP.
The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) is a registered non-governmental organization based in Abuja, Nigeria. It comprises members of Officers’ Wives from the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force and the Nigeria Police.
The objectives of DEPOWA include promotion of cordial relationship amongst its members while helping women play their roles in national development by organizing seminars, symposia, workshops and conferences with the aim of exposing and educating women on opportunities and facilities available to them both locally and internationally.
