Wife of the Chief of Army Staff (COA), Mariya Lagbaja, and other women under the auspices of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) have distributed palliatives to 620 widows, students and teachers in Rivers State.
Mrs. Lagbaja, who is also the president of NAOWA was in the 6th Division, Nigeria Army to lay the foundation for NAOWA College, inaugurated the nursery and primary schools built by the division’s NAOWA chapter among other activities.
About 80 widows of slain soldiers received bags of rice, cartons of noodles, buckets of vegetable oil, and an undisclosed amount of money.
The association extended similar gestures to 40 teachers drawn from schools within the barracks and 500 students, who got school bags and writing materials.
Read Also: Impeachment: Elders battle to halt Rivers crisis as Peterside, Semenitari sue for peace
Mrs. Lagbaja further inaugurated the NAOWA car park, 6 Division Creche and Nursery school and planted trees to fight pollution.
While inaugurating the remodelled NAOWA nursery and primary school, she commended the wife of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division, Mrs Maryam Abdulssalam, for advancing quality education in her domain.
She said: “I must say, that the total overhaul of the school structures and equipment in this wonderful, adorable and promising facility, as well as the establishment of the NAOWA Park in the school by Mrs. Maryam Abdulssalam, within this short period as the Chairperson, NAOWA 6 Division Chapter is a testament that she is an elegant mother with a heart of gold, who is devoted to adding value to NAOWA assets and advancing the educational pursuit of our children in the barrack community.
“Her commendable action of executing these laudable projects is also a pointer to the fact that the Chairperson NAOWA 6 Division Chapter, is a keen supporter of my vision of ‘sustaining legacies through an unwavering commitment to unity and service for the betterment of humanity.”
Lagbaja urged all NAOWA presiding members at all levels to emulate the action of Mrs Abdulsalam by formulating good initiatives that would impact positively the barrack community and society.
In her remarks, the chairperson of the NAOWA 6 Division Chapter, Mrs. Abdussalam, explained that the decrepit condition of the schools propelled her intervention.
Explaining that she could not allow an asset such as the 25-year-old school to rot away.
She said: “25 years ago, NAOWA Nursery and Primary School was established in Port Harcourt Barracks for the provision of quality education to the children and wards of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army as well as the general public.
“On my assumption of office on 25th April 2023, during my tour and inspection of assets belonging to NAOWA 6 Division Chapter, the Primary School was inspected and I observed that it was in a terrible state and not conducive for learning.”
“A school that was originally meant to be an incentive for the barracks community was left to deteriorate to the level that the majority of wards were attending school outside the barracks thereby defeating the purpose for which the school was established.
“The level of deterioration created a burning desire for an improvement to be made. Therefore, fixing the school to an acceptable standard became imperative.
“The intention was to create a serene environment where pupils can thrive and their sound minds can flourish, curiosity can be nurtured and learning can be in a very happy environment.”