Abuja, Nigeria | January 21, 2026 — The President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Mrs Safiyyah Hassan Shaibu, has reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to empowering youths with practical vocational and digital skills to promote self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
She made the pledge at the Combined Graduation Ceremony of Batch 3 ICT and Batch 2 Fashion Design trainees of the NAOWA Youth Empowerment Program for the 2025/2026 training year, held Wednesday at the Mrs Alero Azazi Event Centre, Mambilla Barracks, Asokoro, Abuja.
Addressing the graduates, Mrs Shaibu congratulated them for their discipline, commitment and perseverance throughout the training period, noting that the skills acquired position them to become productive contributors to the economy. She urged the beneficiaries to deploy their knowledge creatively and responsibly, add value to their communities, and serve as worthy ambassadors of NAOWA.
Mrs Shaibu expressed appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, for his continued encouragement and support of NAOWA programmes. She also commended the Nigerian Institute of Management and Technology, Abuja (NIMTA) for its professionalism, dedication and quality service delivery in training the participants.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Special Guest of Honour, the COAS, the Chief of Administration (Army), Major General IM Abdullahi, applauded NAOWA for sustaining impactful empowerment initiatives aligned with the Nigerian Army’s welfare objectives. He encouraged the graduates to uphold discipline, innovation and excellence in their career pursuits.
Also speaking, the Mother of the Day and Founder of NIMTA, Mrs Hadiza Bello Danbazau, represented by Hajiya Khaltume Abbab, praised NAOWA’s foresight in youth capacity development and reaffirmed NIMTA’s commitment to continued collaboration with the Association.
Similarly, the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Mernan Femi Oluyede, represented by Mrs Osarumwense Odosa, lauded NAOWA for its consistency in empowering youths and strengthening inter-association cooperation in support of national development.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates and starter packs to the graduating trainees, underscoring NAOWA’s sustained efforts to equip youths with practical ICT and fashion design skills while advancing its vision of empowerment, innovation and self-reliance.
By Jemila Jimoh
Captain, LO NAOWA
January 21, 2026
