NAOWA Graduates 234 Undergraduate Trainees of NAOWA Youth Development Project; As COAS, Gen Yahaya Assures of Continued Support to Empower Youths in Military Barracks

Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya has assured the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, NAOWA, that the Nigerian Army under his command will make resources available towards ensuring the empowerment of youths nd children in military barracks to enable them achieve educational and other talents inherent in them

Speaking at the opening graduation ceremony of undergraduates trainees on NAOWA Youth Development Project on Thursday, 3 November 2022 in Abuja, the COAS said, “Anything that would support the empowerment of our youths in the barracks, we will support it. Anything that can be done to improve the youths and children in the barracks, resources will not be a problem”.

While appreciating NAOWA for the commitments towards education and training of youths in the barracks, Gen Yahaya said the graduation of the 234 undergraduates from the Youth Development Project was a pointer to the importance attached to children of officers and soldiers who are fixated on tackling security challenges across the country.

He said, “When you see the presentations of our youths here today, you know that youths in the barracks have talent. I want to encourage graduands not to relent but remain committed. If you are committed in education you can achieve results and excel”.

Furthermore, the COAS expressed jou that during the five weeks training programme, the graduands exhibited high conduct, no case of indiscipline and all the 234 came out without any incident.

“I charge you to be good ambassadors of our barracks. We are not vworried about the number of youths that are being trained. We will continue to support NAOWA in this good cause. I therefore challenge you graduands to leverage on what you have learnt to better yourselves and the society”.    

In her welcome remarks the President of NAOWA, Mrs. Salamatu Yahaya disclosed that the ‘NAOWA Youth Development Project for Undergraduates’ is an initiative to positively engage youth in the barracks by committing them to learning activities in the areas of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Entrepreneurial Skills that would enhance their academic pursuit as well as their productivity in various spheres of life.

She said, “The youth project was initially, targeted at students of public universities who were af home due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU). The initial plan was to train 400 youth, however, when the registration commenced we had over 400 interested participants who pleaded to be registered for the programme. 

“Their plea and NAOWA consideration for the betterment of all youth in the barracks led to the expansion of the programme to accommodate Secondary School Certificate Holders who are yet to gain admission into higher institutions of learning. Currently, over 800 students from various barracks within the FCT have registered for the NAOWA Youth Development Project.

“The first stream of trainees that are graduating are the undergraduate trainees affected by the strike action carried out by ASUU, the training commenced with 236 trainees, out of which 234 successfully completed the training and would be graduating today (Thursday). 

“It is heartwarming that the NAOWA Youth Development Project is yielding positive results as these trainees would be going back to their respective schools with added knowledge that would have significant impact in their educational pursuit and career development.

“The NAOWA Youth Development Project comprises of an Intensive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Training as well as other forms of youth empowerment programmes. The ICT Training was conducted by the Unites CISCO Networking Academy, who are amongst the best hands and also recognized globally in the field of Information and Communication Technology

“The ICT training for this first stream was carried out in five (5) programmes which are: IT Essentials, Get Connected, Introduction to Cyber Security, Python, and Web Design. The Graduating Trainees have also been registered on the Cisco Networking Academy Website, which would give them access to Cisco advance learning networks and entitle them to discounted rates in all advance computer trainings which they may wish to enroll with the Unites Cisco Networking Academy.

At the ceremony, gift items including Brand New Laptop Computers were presented to the best 3 graduating trainees in each course, who had distinguished themselves by their outstanding performance in the respective courses and also two (2) Volunteer Facilitators. 

Mrs Yahaya said, “This gesture is aimed at encouraging them to be more hardworking and also to emphasize the importance of appreciating rare opportunities of this nature. Additionally, some trainees would also be presented same gift items for their remarkable conduct throughout the duration of the training. It is worthy to note, that these Laptop Computers that will be issued out, were graciously donated by individual members of NAOWA.

“It is our intention to commence the second stream of the training which would feature the Secondary School Certificate Holders and subsequently the third and possibly a fourth stream depending on availability of resources. The second stream of the training would not be limited to ICT, as it would be extended to cover other vocational skills, such as fashion designing, catering and photography.

Continuing she said, “It is pertinent to state that before the commencement of the ICT training, the NAOWA Institute of Management and Technology (NIMTA) building was in a deplorable state and the facilities were obsolete, as such we had to carry out a total renovation of the facility and also equip the respective departments with desktop and laptop computers, Internet facilities, furniture, projectors, screens, printers, catering equipment and office equipment amongst others.

“Additionally, each of the participant was trained at a fee, provided with writing materials and a weekly stipends of Five Thousand Naira (N5,000) to cater for logistic and personal needs. It is important to note that the renovation of the NIMTA facility, the provision of equipment, funding of the training and provision of the weekly stipends to the trainees, were all sponsored by the Special Guest of Honor, the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya, who has always placed premium on the welfare of Nigerian Army Personnel and their families”.

Mr. Dahiru Abdullahi Bello emerged the best overall student in the male category while Miss Aisha Kudu Yandanu emerged the best overall student, female category.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Mother of the Day, Mrs Hadiza Bello Dambazau, the 17th President of NAOWA, whose established the NAOWA Vocational Training Center which is currently known as the NAOWA Institute of Management and Technology (NIMTA), the President DEPOWA Barr (Mrs) Victoria Anwuli Irabor, the Presidents of NOWA, NAFOWA and POWA, Principal Staff Officers of the Army Headquarters as well as the Excellent 37 RC Queens who provided additional 10 Desktop Computers to NIMTA.