NAOWA empowers 100 women, youths in Lagos

By OKOSUN DENNIS

As part of its objectives to raise the standard of living of women, the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), on Saturday empowered 100 women and youths with working equipment.

Women and youths who graduated in different trades as: catering and hotel management, fashion designing, barbing, bead making among others were empowered by the National President of the association, Mrs Umma-Kaslum Tukur Buratai at the Ojo Cantonment, Lagos.

Mrs Buratai also used the occasion to inaugurate the newly renovated NAOWA Nursery and Primary School at the cantonment.

She explained that “Because of the population in the country, there is no job so we deem it necessary to train these people so that they can be on their own,’’she said.

The NAOWA president added that the renovation of the school was part of the contribution the association was making to provide good and equipped schools in the barracks.

“Education is the key to economic empowerment, growth and development and there is no better investment we can make other than investing in education.

“If this is so, it becomes necessary to ensure that our children are educated in a conducive environment.

“On my assumption of office as the NAOWA president, I paid a visit to this school and the learning condition of the school was deplorable.

“It was against this background that we made sure the school was renovated, “she said.

When asked if other schools that are equally in a bad state would be renovated, the president said it would be done in every part of the country.

On the empowerment initiative, Buratai said she was pleased that women and youths living in the barracks were beneficiaries of the laudable entrepreneurship initiative.

“This NAOWA Empowerment Initiative is thriving considering the Federal Government’s drive to reduce importation of goods and encouraging local production of goods in Nigeria.

“NAOWA engaged the services of well trained instructors who are conversant with the barrack’s mentality, interest and people.

“The two weeks intensive training covered areas such as catering and hotel management, fashion and textile design, bead making, hair dressing, barbing saloon and soap making,“she said.

Meanwhile, the Special Guest of Honour, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, wife of the Lagos State Governor, in her remarks, said she was impressed with the renovation and empowerment initiative.

Ambode, who was represented by Mrs Ganiat Bolaji, said that NAOWA, a progressive association had been able to take care of women, children and youths.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Yahaya Isa expressed her gratitude to the association for empowering her and assured she would make good use of the equipment.

Equipment donated to the beneficiaries, were sewing machines, barbing equipment, hair dressing equipment and many others.

Present at the innauguration ceremony were; General Officer Commanding, 81 Division, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Oyefolu, NAOWA women and other top brass of the Nigerian Army.