By Nkechi Eze
The General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, has reinforced the Army’s commitment to the welfare of personnel and their families with the donation of 20 brand new motorcycles to women in Giginya Cantonment, Sokoto, in a move aimed at strengthening economic independence and self-reliance within the barracks community.
The empowerment initiative, which took place at the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association Leisure Park in the cantonment, was disclosed in an official statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 8 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olaniyi Osoba. According to the statement, the motorcycles were formally handed over to the Cantonment Magajiya by the GOC, who described the gesture as a practical intervention designed to enhance the livelihood of women and families of serving personnel.
Speaking at the event, the GOC noted that the donation forms a key component of his Barracks Women Empowerment Scheme and reflects the Nigerian Army’s unwavering commitment to the welfare and well-being of its troops and their dependents. He explained that the motorcycles would provide critical mobility for women engaged in petty trading and other small-scale businesses, enabling them to access markets more easily, improve logistics, and expand their economic activities both within and outside the cantonment.
The GOC further stated that the initiative aligns with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff to boost the morale and welfare of troops through impactful and sustainable empowerment programmes targeted at their families. He commended the Magajiya of the cantonment and other women leaders for their consistent support to troops and for their role in promoting peace, harmony and cohesion within the barracks community.
Receiving the motorcycles on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Magajiya of Giginya Cantonment, Hajiya Amina Adamu, expressed deep appreciation for what she described as a transformative gesture. She praised the GOC for his visionary and people-centred leadership, assuring that the motorcycles would be distributed fairly among the beneficiaries and properly maintained to ensure long-term benefits.
The empowerment ceremony attracted a wide range of stakeholders, including formation commanders, senior officers, the Chairperson of the 8 Division Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association, members of the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association, as well as personnel and their families. The event climaxed with the symbolic presentation of keys, the exchange of souvenirs and group photographs, marking what many described as a hopeful step towards enhanced economic stability and independence for women in Giginya Cantonment.
