The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander, Sector 2 Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Major General Ibikunle Ademola Ajose has empowered women in Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto State, with the donation of 20 brand-new motorcycles to enhance their economic independence.
The empowerment initiative, according to the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba, is aimed at boosting income-generating activities among families of personnel and fostering self-reliance within the barracks community.
Handing over the motorcycles to the Cantonment Magajiya at the NAOWA Leisure Park, the GOC emphasized that the gesture reflects the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its personnel and their families. He explained that the donation forms a key part of his Barracks Women Empowerment Scheme.
He noted that the motorcycles would provide essential mobility for women engaged in petty trading, enabling them to access markets, manage logistics, and expand their small-scale businesses both within and outside the cantonment.
The GOC further stated that the initiative aligns with the Chief of Army Staff’s directive to enhance the morale and wellbeing of troops and their dependents through meaningful empowerment programmes. He also commended the Magajiya and other women leaders for their vital roles in supporting serving personnel and promoting peace and harmony within the barracks.
Receiving the motorcycles on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Magajiya of Giginya Cantonment, Hajiya Amina Adamu, expressed profound gratitude for the gesture, describing it as transformative. She praised the GOC’s visionary leadership and assured that the motorcycles would be distributed equitably and maintained responsibly.
The event was attended by formation commanders, senior officers, the Chairperson of the 8 Division Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), members of the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA), and families of personnel.
The ceremony concluded with a symbolic handover of keys, presentation of souvenirs, and group photographs, marking a significant step toward improved economic empowerment for women in Giginya Cantonment.
