By Tijjani Mohammed
A total of 250 youths have graduated from an intensive skills training programme organised by the Nigerian Defence Academy Officers Wives Association (NDAOWA) under its Barracks Community Skill Acquisition Programme.
The programme, organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Entrepreneurship Development Centre, was designed to equip members of the barracks community, particularly women and youths, with practical skills for self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday in Kaduna, Mrs Mernan Oluyede, President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), commended NDAOWA for initiating the programme.
Oluyede said skills acquisition and entrepreneurship were important instruments for economic empowerment, adding that they promoted self-reliance, confidence and the capacity to contribute meaningfully to families and communities.
She said the initiative aligned with DEPOWA’s commitment to education, economic empowerment and strengthening military and police families.
“When families are empowered, they are better positioned to withstand economic pressures and support the personnel who serve our nation,” she said.
Oluyede urged the graduates to remain disciplined, innovative and committed to continuous improvement, adding that the true measure of the programme would be how effectively they applied the skills acquired.
She said starter packs were presented to selected graduates to enable them to commence their chosen careers and build sustainable livelihoods.
The DEPOWA president also said the association remained committed to supporting military families, particularly widows whose husbands had paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.
“A lot of Nigerians don’t see the experiences of military families.
“Our personnel are out there tackling a wide range of security problems, and there is a lot of pressure on the family, emotional and psychological pressure,” she said.
She explained that visits to widows and other vulnerable members of military families were part of the association’s efforts to ensure that they feel recognised, supported and encouraged.
Oluyede said providing widows with training and tools could help restore their confidence and enable them to make productive use of their talents.
T
he coordinator of NDAOWA, Mrs Oritseseyisan Olatoye, said the 250 graduates represented the first batch of a broader plan to train 700 members of the barracks community.
Olatoye said the initiative provided training in various vocational areas, adding that subsequent batches would be enrolled to expand the reach of the programme.
She thanked the NDA Commandant, the Entrepreneurship Development Centre, instructors and facilitators for their support toward the success of the programme.
Olatoye said starter packs were presented to selected graduates based on assessments and practical evaluations conducted during the training.
She urged beneficiaries to use the equipment responsibly and turn their skills into productive ventures.
Dr Isyaku Alhaji, Director, NDA Entrepreneurship Development Centre, said the 10-day training was designed to equip members of the barracks community with practical and income-generating skills.
Alhaji said the programme focused on hands-on vocational training aimed at enabling participants to become self-reliant and contribute to the economic wellbeing of their families.
He congratulated the graduates for demonstrating commitment, discipline and resilience throughout the training.
He urged them to continue practising and improving their skills, stressing that the value of the programme would be measured by their ability to transform the acquired skills into sustainable enterprises.
The director commended NDA authorities and NDAOWA for their support and vision toward strengthening community engagement and empowering members of the barracks community.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was part of broader efforts by NDAOWA to promote skills development, economic empowerment and social support within the military community.
NAN also reports that the association extended its humanitarian outreach to widows of deceased NDA personnel and other members of the military community.
The outreach included visits to NDA hospital, where support was provided to patients as part of efforts to promote the welfare and wellbeing of members of the military community.
The activities underscored the association’s commitment to supporting military families and complementing the efforts of personnel serving the nation.
The graduates were presented with certificates, while selected beneficiaries received starter packs to support the commencement of their businesses.
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