The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Christopher Gwabin Musa has acknowledged the unwavering support and guidance of the DEPOWA President and all the Wives of service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police for their determination to assist the wives of fallen heroes and the vulnerable in the barrack community and beyond.
General Musa gave this commendation today 13th March, 2024, at the Combined Graduation Ceremony of Batches 14, 15 and 16 of 2023 Trainees of the DEPOWA Skills Acquisition Centre in Abuja where 37 trainees were Sponsored by President DEPOWA, while NAOWA sponsored 4 candidates, NOWA sponsored 2, NAFRCOWA sponsored 5, DLAOWA sponsored 5, DICONOWA sponsored 2, MPBOWA sponsored 4, while POWA sponsored 2, 11 students were self sponsored.
Speaking at the commendation today 13th March, 2024, at the Combined Graduation Ceremony, General Musa stressed that the day, marked a significant milestone in the lives of DEPOWA graduates as they stand on the threshold of a new chapter filled with opportunities and possibilities.
General Musa admonished graduates, "as you step out into the world armed with your newfound skills and expertise, I urge you to embrace the journey ahead with courage, passion and resilience. The road to success may be fraught with challenges and obstacles, but is your unwavering determination and willingness to adapt that will ultimately lead you to greatness.
"Remember that learning is a lifelong journey and the skills you have acquired here are just the beginning. Continue to seek out new opportunities for growth, never stop pushing the boundaries of your potential and always strive for excellence in everything you do.
"As you embark on this new chapter of your lives, I encourage you to remain true to yourselves, stay committed to your goals and never lose sight of the values that defines who you are. Your skills and talents have the power to transform not only your own lives but also the world around you."
General Musa appreciated the instructors of the DEPOWA Skill Acquisition Centre. "Your dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a conducive learning environment has played a pivotal role in shaping the future leaders and innovators we see before us today."
In her remarks, the President Defence and Police Officers' Wives Association, Mrs Oghogho Gwabin Musa noted that the DEPOWA Skills Acquisition Centre, after five months of rigorous and painstaking training, graduated a total of 102 trainees, in line with her vision of "Seeing Women and Girls Become Productive and Contributors to Family and Society Driven by Deep Sense of Values and Hard-working Spirit".
Mrs Musa added that the trainees were inaugurated on the 9th October 2023 and training commenced thereafter with 106 beneficiaries comprising of 84 women and 22 men. "However, owing to the high premium we place in the standard of trainings at the Centre, 102 trainees are graduating today. The successful beneficiaries were trained in various skills including, Catering Services, Fashion Designing, Hair Making/makeup and Gele Tying. Others are Production of Household Products, Information Communication Technology, Bag Making and Barbing.
"Each of the participant's training regimen was fully funded by DEPOWA and all of them were provided with essential basic training materials and placed on monthly stipends of Ten Thousand Naira (N10,000) to cater for their logistics and personal needs. It is also noteworthy that in spite of the limited funds at our disposal, we had to undertake a thorough renovation of the Centre and provided it new equipment to ensure conducive learning environment prior to commencement of the training. This was necessary in view of the fact that all the departments of Centre were in a deplorable state and with obsolete facilities." she said
Mrs Musa commended the graduating trainees, for their patience, discipline and commitment in staying through the training process and also implore them to be good ambassadors of DSAC. "Make sure that you fully and responsibly utilize every opportunity that comes your way. More importantly, be bold, brave, disciplined and continue to improve upon the crafts you have learnt from this Centre. I have no doubt that equipped with these attributes, you will most definitely succeed in your respective endeavors.
The students conducted themselves very well throughout the course. The individual contribution, team work and collective cooperation were commendable as there were no disciplinary cases recorded. The breakdown of the students' sponsorship is as follows.
Highlights of the ceremony is the presentation of certificates and starter-kits to the 102 graduate trainees, the Runway fashion show and the presentation of souvenirs to the special guest of honour, General Christopher Musa, Mother of the Day, First DEPOWA President Mrs Esther Bali, 13th DEPOWA President Mrs Bola Olonisakin and other dignitaries.