By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) has inaugurated the NAOWA Delight Bakery and NAOWA Stitches and Design Centre to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for military families.
The President of the association, Mrs Safiyyah Shaibu, said the facilities would serve as centres for practical training, employment and income generation.
She said the projects reflected NAOWA’s commitment to translating skills acquisition into sustainable businesses capable of improving family incomes.
According to her, the bakery will provide training, employment and income-generating opportunities, while the fashion centre will nurture creativity and entrepreneurship.
She described the facilities as enduring investments in innovation, human capital and the future of military families.
Shaibu said the centres complemented the objectives of the NAOWA Youth Empowerment Programme by providing beneficiaries with platforms to develop and commercialise their skills.
“Training people is important, but providing platforms where those skills can be developed, practised and transformed into meaningful livelihoods is even more impactful,” she said.
She said the facilities would produce many success stories by enabling beneficiaries to establish viable businesses and become employers of labour.
The NAOWA president thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, for supporting welfare and empowerment initiatives within the Nigerian Army.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Army Institute of Management and Technology (NIMTA), instructors and development partners toward establishing the centres.
Shaibu urged government agencies, private organisations and development partners to continue supporting programmes that promote entrepreneurship, skills development and sustainable livelihoods among military families.
She expressed confidence that the facilities would strengthen economic resilience within barracks communities while contributing to national development.
The Acting Rector of NIMTA, Capt. Safiya Tafida, said NAOWA was also pursuing accreditation for NIMTA to commence National Diploma and Diploma programmes.
Tafida described the move as a major step towards expanding vocational and technological education.
She said that the new sewing and garment production factory would provide practical training, create jobs for graduates and meet uniform requirements of NAOWA schools and other institutions.
According to her, outstanding graduates of the fashion programme will be considered for employment when the factory begins operations, demonstrating NAOWA’s commitment to sustainable empowerment beyond skills acquisition.
The bakery and sewing factory were unveiled by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) represented by the Chief of Administration (Army), Maj.-Gen. Isa Abdullahi. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Yakubu Uba