Commander 9 Brigade Hosts NAOWA Chairperson, Empowers Widows

The Nigerian Army’s 9 Brigade, under the leadership of Brigadier General Olawale Mathew Oyekola, on Wednesday hosted Mrs. Zainab Aliyu Farouk Mijinyawa, Chairperson of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) 81 Division Chapter. The visit, part of a familiarization tour, culminated in a widows’ empowerment initiative aimed at easing the financial burdens of military families.

During her visit to the 9 Brigade headquarters in Lagos, Mrs. Mijinyawa toured key facilities, including the NAOWA schools and the 9 Brigade Medical Center. These visits allowed her to engage with community members and assess the welfare of military families.

One of the most significant aspects of the visit was the Widows’ Empowerment Programme, organized by Mrs. Olubukola Olayinka Oyekola, the Zonal Coordinator of NAOWA 9 Brigade, in collaboration with the honorary members of the 9 Brigade Officers’ Mess. The event, designed to support widows within the military cantonment, provided much-needed financial and material aid.

Widows were presented with food items such as bags of rice, noodles, cooking oil, and other essentials, while 17 children of the widows received scholarships to cover three academic terms at Command Day Secondary School. This move is seen as a critical intervention amid Nigeria’s current economic challenges, where many families are struggling with rising costs of living.

“The empowerment initiative is a demonstration of NAOWA’s commitment to providing support for vulnerable families,” said Mrs. Oyekola, who has led several similar initiatives aimed at military families.

Mrs. Mijinyawa expressed her appreciation to Brigadier General Oyekola and the officers of 9 Brigade for their dedication to improving the well-being of women and children in the cantonment. She underscored the importance of maintaining strong community ties and ensuring continued support for military families, especially widows who are often left to shoulder heavy burdens alone.

The visit concluded with a formal luncheon at the 9 Brigade Officers’ Mess, where officers and honorary members gathered to honor Mrs. Mijinyawa and her delegation. In a final gesture of camaraderie, souvenirs were presented to the visiting Chairperson and her entourage, along with group photographs to commemorate the event.

The widows’ empowerment programme at 9 Brigade reflects NAOWA’s broader mission of fostering resilience among military families and ensuring that no one is left behind, particularly in difficult times.

More photos from the event below.