The National President of the Naval Officers' Wives Association, (NOWA) Mrs Ijeoma Blessing Ogalla has organised a Seminar for the Naval Ratings Wives Association (NARAWA) on Monday 22 July 2024 with the theme, “Marriage for Couples: A Life Time Relay" on economic empowerment.and effective home management. The event was held at the Police Officers Wives Association Hall, Asokoro.
Declaring the seminar open, Mrs Ogalla who emphasized the importance of recognizing military wives as “home warriors said the seminar is to support the spouses of service members who are often at the warfront, and are the primary caregivers.
The association’s president, Mrs. Ijeoma Ogalla ably represented by NOWA Vice President, Mrs. Zainab Akpan, acknowledged the challenges faced by Wives of officers, including economic hardship, while highlighting the need for support and skills acquisition.
Mrs. Ogalla said challenges of officers’ wives, ratings’ wives or military wives are similar because husbands are mostly not at home and the children are left with them.
She said the gesture was part of the welfare drive of the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) to inculcate marital values, provide and organise skill acquisition programme/training in order to boost their finances. She further reiterated that the CNS recognises and appreciates NARAWA.
“Sometimes, when these men return from the forefront of whatever their assignment is, they are faced with long breach of dis-communication with theie family. And sometimes, they don’t really tend to know their children as such.
“So, if we can bridge this gap, it can come a long way to really help these women and help our military and navy family as a whole,’’ she noted.
She said the seminar is imformative and enlightening because Through this Life long relay, couples grow together learn from each other and build strong walks that help them to overcome challenges.
"We all have seasons to live. There are seasons of life. Everything under this earth, there is a purpose. What is a purpose of a husband and man? You must have your purpose.
The resource person, Dr Simon Asemota and his wife highlighted various factors that affected many homes such as lack of trust and effective communication between husband and wife.
Asemota said: "The power of effective Communication in a marriage is importantfor good result. A man must communicate his vision. A Couples that doesn't talk doesn't have a marriage. Express yourself on what you love and what you don't love. Effectively communicating with partners. . Listening ear is also important.
"There must be Share Goals between couples. It is important couples to work together towards common goal and dream. Life is not what you consumed to yourself, life is about impact and if you impact in your children, they will be 10 times better than you".
He advised the women to ensure that their children develop the habit of reading books. The reading culture will help children
Speaking to journalists after the seminar, two participants, who are members of Naval Ratings Wives Association (NARAWA), expressed gratitude to NOWA President Mrs. Ijeoma Ogalla for empowering them with life changing seminar on managing their homes.
A participant, Mrs. Bukola Bello, shared her determination to encourage her children to develop reading habits, rather than engaging in unproductive activities.
She emphasized that the current generation of military wives is committed to dispelling the stereotype that children raised in barracks are rough and stubborn.
Another participant, Mrs. Chinenye Monday, a member of NARAWA expressed her enthusiasm for applying the lessons learned to engage her children positively and manage her home more effectively. She praised the program for teaching her new approaches to home management and effective communication.
