By Sumaila Ogbaje
Mrs Safiyyah Shaibu, the 25th President of Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), has promised to deepen support for families of serving, retired and fallen officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army.
Shaibu made the promise while taking over the leadership of NAOWA from her predecessor, Mrs. Mernan Oluyede, who is now President of Defence and Police Officers’Wives Association (DEPOWA).
This is contained in a statement by the Liaison Officer, Maj. Abayomi Oni-Orisan, on Monday in Abuja.
In her inaugural address, Shaibu expressed gratitude to God and paid tribute to Mrs Oluyede for her exemplary leadership.
She pledged to consolidate on existing achievements and introduce new initiatives that would strengthen family welfare, women’s empowerment, and educational support across Army communities.
“Your leadership has been exemplary, and we remain grateful for your dedication and service to NAOWA.
“You have laid a strong foundation, and I am committed to building upon it with sincerity, vision, and dedication,” she said.
Shaibu said her focus would be on sustainability, inclusion, and innovation, qualities she believes are essential to uplifting military families and preserving NAOWA’s legacy.
“Service is the heartbeat of NAOWA. We will continue to empower, educate, and care for our communities because when military families thrive, the nation becomes stronger,” she said.
The new President, a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Forensic Accountant currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration, is known within the NAOWA community for her passion for grassroots impact.
From Monguno to Maiduguri and Bama in Borno, where she previously served in various capacities, Shaibu initiated projects that improved access to education, healthcare, and skills acquisition for military families and host communities.
In her valedictory remarks, former President, Mrs Oluyede thanked God for the grace to serve and her husband, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, for his support throughout her tenure.
She said that NAOWA had, under her watch, strengthened institutional frameworks and expanded humanitarian programmes touching lives across the country.
Oluyede, who now serves as President of DEPOWA, urged NAOWA members to remain united and committed to service, assuring that collaboration among the Services’ associations would continue to promote welfare and national cohesion.
Highlights of the occasion included the signing of the handing-and-taking-over notes, presentation of the NAOWA flag, and group photographs symbolising unity and shared purpose. (NAN)
