Abuja, Nigeria – The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) held its monthly Health Walk and Aerobics session on Saturday, 5th July, 2025 drawing a large turnout of enthusiastic women committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
The event, aimed at promoting physical fitness and well-being among women, featured a lively aerobics session, wellness tips, and light refreshments. As part of the day’s activities, the first 100 women who arrived early were each presented with a yoga mat — a gesture to encourage regular home practice and continued engagement in fitness routines.
President, Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Oghogho Gwabin Musa addressing women shortly after the aerobic exercise urged barracks women to prioritise regular physical exercise, healthy eating habits and self discipline to live healthy.
DEPOWA leadership emphasized the importance of regular exercise for both physical and mental health, encouraging participants to make fitness a regular part of their lives.
“This monthly event is not just about exercise; it’s about building a strong community of healthy, empowered women,” one DEPOWA official said.
She called on all members of military and paramilitary officers’ wives associations to lead by example in promoting wellness practices not only for their benefit but for the broader well-being of their families and communities.
The DEPOWA President said the session was a deliberate follow-up to a health talk held on Friday, which addressed critical topics such as stress management, nutrition, and the necessity of routine medical checkups.
She said that the feedback from the previous sessions had led to the expansion of aerobics, urging the women to sustain the tempo to be able reap the benefits.
In her remarks, the President of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Dr Elizabeth Egbetokun, described exercise as a powerful tool for both physical and social well-being.
She commended DEPOWA for sustaining the initiative and encouraged more inter-agency collaborations in health and wellness programmes.
On her part, the President of Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, appealed to husbands to support their wives’ involvement in wellness programmes.
She noted that when a woman is healthy, the entire home benefits. “We need the encouragement of our spouses to stay consistent on this journey.
“Our husbands should also know that when women come together in this manner, it fosters good personal relationships with one another,” she said.
The Health Walk and Aerobics session will continue to be held monthly, with plans to introduce more wellness-focused initiatives in the coming months.
