The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Mernan Femi-Oluyede, has commissioned the newly upgraded National Defence College Officers’ Wives Association (NDCOWA) Vocational Training Centre in Ushafa, Abuja.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mrs. Femi-Oluyede described the occasion as an honour and expressed satisfaction with the centre’s longstanding contribution to skills acquisition and empowerment within the barracks community.
She noted that the centre had, over the years, equipped members of the community with practical skills in areas such as sewing, knitting, bag making and computer studies.
According to her, the upgrading of the facility and provision of additional equipment would further enhance its capacity to deliver vocational training and create more opportunities for members of the community.
“It is an honour and a pleasure to commission this centre today. The centre has a long history of training members of the barracks community, with skills already developed in sewing, knitting, bag making and computer studies.
“More equipment has now been provided and the facility has been given a facelift. We look forward to seeing even better skills and greater opportunities for our community. I am very happy to see this development,” she said.
Mrs. Femi-Oluyede added that initiatives aimed at empowering families and members of military communities deserved continued support, stressing that the vocational centre would contribute significantly to improving livelihoods and promoting self-reliance.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the National Defence College Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs. Hauwa Ahmed, expressed profound appreciation to the DEPOWA President for accepting the invitation to commission the upgraded facility.
She also thanked the Commandant of the National Defence College for supporting and sponsoring the project.
Mrs. Ahmed said the vision of the vocational training centre was to empower members of the barracks community, particularly women, widows, orphans and their children, through the acquisition of marketable vocational skills.
She explained that the centre had expanded over the years to include several departments, including Information and Communication Technology (ICT), fashion and design, tailoring, knitting and catering.
According to her, the facility was officially entrusted to the National Defence College Officers’ Wives Association in November 2018, while the centre subsequently secured approval to conduct vocational training and certification programmes.
Beyond direct training, she said the centre had also diversified its activities by producing uniforms, knitwear and household items, as well as providing ICT and other related services.
Mrs. Ahmed said the commissioning of the newly renovated and fully equipped facility marked another important milestone in the development of the centre.
“Today, as we commission the newly renovated and fully equipped facilities, we celebrate a landmark chapter that greatly elevates our capability to deliver practical, quality and certified vocational training for generations to come,” she said
The upgraded NDCOWA Vocational Training Centre is expected to further strengthen skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment among members of the barracks community and other beneficiaries
