Kogiflame.com
Mrs. Umma-Kalsum Buratai, President, Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), has inaugurated a newly constructed zonal office and a renovated maternity hall at Chari-Maigumeri Barracks, Command Army Records (CAR), Lokoja.
The association also performed a foundation laying ceremony for NAOWA Creche and Day Care Centre, and donated baby items to pregnant women at the barracks.
Mrs. Buratai, in a speech at the inaugural ceremony, said that the projects would boost the main thrust of NAOWA’s key objectives – complementing Nigeria Army’s efforts in the provision of quality education and comprehensive healthcare services in barracks and surrounding communities.
She said that Lokoja had been passive over NAOWA activities, and commended the Commander, CAR, Maj-Gen Elvis Njoku, for his support towards rejuvenating NAOWA’s presence in Lokoja.
She applauded the commander’s wife for undertaking the remarkable projects, describing them as “wonderful initiatives that will boost the healthcare and educational facilities in the cantonment”.
”The reward of caring for the less privileged and the down-trodden is quite enormous. Please don ‘t relent in your efforts and contribution to making our barracks a better place,” Buratai advised.
Mrs. Aretha Njoku, the NAOWA Zonal Coordinator, said that the barracks lacked educational facilities which had forced the personnel’s children to attend schools outside the barracks at a much higher cost in fees and transportation.
”We all know that education is the best legacy we can give to our children. NAOWA should assist in reversing the deplorable education situation in the barracks,” she said.
She urged the Kogi governor’s wife to support the women financially and morally, in the construction of the day-care facility.
In her remarks, the wife of the Kogi Governor, Mrs. Rashida Bello, who performed the foundation laying ceremony of the project, promised to give NAOWA all the support needed to complete it.
”We are on the same page in our quest for a better life for the poor. We have always reached out to the widows of our fallen heroes and we will continue to reach out to them.
”They are always in our mind. We will always see what we can do to take care of them and their children,” Bello said.
Earlier, Maj-Gen Elvis Njoku, the Commander, Headquarters Command Army Records, commended Mrs. Buratai for the visit, saying that he was particularly happy because it was the first time a NAOWA President was visiting the barracks.
”I am so glad that I am the one on the seat on this epoch visit,” Njoku said.
Mrs. Buratai, in company of Mrs. Bello, had earlier visited the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, and donated cash and other items to patients at the labour Ward.
They also donated items to the woman that was delivered of five babies recently.
