Molly Kilete, Abuja

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The Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), has trained and empowered 40 widows and orphans of soldiers killed in the ongoing counterterrorism war and other internal security operations across the country.
The trainees among them vulnerable barrack youths received six months skill acquisition training in Fashion designing, catering, hair dressing, make-up and gele tying, barbing, cosmetic production, computer studies and bead stringing.
They were also equipped with starter packs ranging from set of pots, ovens, cylinders, cake mixers, coolers and baking pans,  generators, clippers, powder brush, combs, catering, weaving and sewing machines, tonging machines, hairdresser, standing and hand hair dryers and cash to rent a business premises for one year.
In her address at the occasion DEPOWA president, Mrs Victoria Iraboh, said the insecurity the Northeast and other parts of the country had led to the loss of lives soldiers who are breadwinners of their families leaving their widows and orphans in the military and police barracks.
She said the skills acquisition for widows and vulnerable youths is in line with the role which DEPOWA and her affiliate member associations are playing in addressing the enormous social and emotional stress, associated with wives of men who she said are trained to lay down their lives for their country.
Also speaking, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, represented by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Cooperation, Rear Admiral Fedrick Ogu, commended the leader of DEPOWA for supporting the widows of military fallen heroes. He said “whatever initiatives is taking to support these widows, who are wives of our colleagues who died in various operations for them to live a worthy life in the absence of their bread-winners who paid the supreme sacrifice  for the peace and unity of our dear country needed to be encouraged by sundry.
The CDS maintained that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would continue to support DEPOWA’s humanitarian and social intervention programmes as well as ensure the wellbeing and welfare of families of fallen heroes.
Gen Irabor advised the graduands to improve on the skills acquired as well as make good use of the starter-packs provided by DEPOWA in sustaining their immediate families and also in adding value to the employment generation.
Gen Irabor, described the DEPOWA Skills Acquisition Centre as having over time proven to be a channel that has continued  to help participants to have a means of livelihood. He added that the DEPOWA’s advocacy, humanitarian and social intervention programmes are in line with the mandate of  the association which is to stand up for, support and enhance the quality of life for military families.
Also speaking, the minister for Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, promised to partner with DEPOWA towards the empowerment of women and youths to achieve economic prosperity of the nation.
She said  “As the national women and children’s machinery, the Ministry of Women Affairs will continue to partner with DEPOWA and other Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in the realisation of the goal of women empowerment as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”