55th NOWA Anniversary: Association vows to positively impact society

December 11, 2020 9:28 am by oremule.modupe

Lagos Dec. 11, 2020 (NAN) As the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA) celebrates its 55th anniversary, the association on Thursday vowed to continue impacting positively on the society.

Mrs Theresa Ibas, the President of NOWA, made this known at the graduation of the NOWA Skills Acquisition Centre’s first set of graduates held at Navy Town, Ojo, Lagos.

She said that that the association would continue to encourage entrepreneurship among women, widows and orphans within the naval community.

“I will like to restate that as a Non-Governmental Organization, NOWA is ready and willing to impact positively on society, especially the naval community and encourage entrepreneurship.

“So, today we will be witnessing the graduation of the NOWA Skills Acquisition Centre’s first set as well as mark the conclusion of the empowerment of those who were trained under the Ayodele’s Foundation Project,” she said.

She said that NOWA ensured that the women were kept abreast of the happenings in the world so that they could gain knowledge to broaden their business horizon.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this year’s edition addressed the use of ICT in alleviating the impact of COVID-19 on Micro, Small and Medium scale business Enterprises.

It also focus on some health issues bothering on the early detection of Cancer as well as mental health.

The NOWA president said “our sisters and beneficiaries of today’s empowerment, I enjoin you all to accept the spirit behind this gesture and make judicious use of the items donated today.

“I pray that the Lord will continue to keep you, increase you and abundantly bless the works of your hands.”

Ibas said that the death of a husband could be devastating especially for women who are not empowered, saying that this made NOWA begin the empowerment programme for widows and orphans.

“It is noteworthy to mention that women are critical stakeholders in global human development, the role of women cannot be over-emphasized.

“It is demanding enough to have to run a family when the father of the home is there and could be a very difficult experience with the departure of the bread winner.

“It’s therefore of utmost importance to see to the need of such women who have lost their husbands and are finding it difficult to keep the family together,” she said.

NAN reports that in 2018, the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Oludolapo Osinbajo, collaborated with NOWA to train about 100 women in different skills under her family’s maiden foundation.

The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, (WNC), represented by Rear Adm. Tanko Pani, Chief Staff Officer WNC, thanked the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) for his unflinching support.

“I want to appreciate the CNS in maintaining a highly operational force that is better, able to meet contemporary maritime security challenges facing the nation as well as an improved welfare policy and incentives for NN personnel.”

He appreciated the national president of NOWA for the tremendous initiative, saying that it was crucial in strengthening and alleviating the hardships faced by widows and orphans of deceased NN personnel.

He urged the widows and orphans to shun vices that could be detrimental to the development of the nation.