By Nkechi Eze
In a world where the loss of a loved one in service to the nation often leaves behind both grief and great responsibility, International Widows’ Day serves as a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of women who continue to hold their families and communities together despite personal tragedy. For military widows, the sacrifice is even greater, as they navigate life after loss under the shadow of national service. Recognizing this, the Defence and Police Officers Wives’ Association (DEPOWA) has continued to champion the welfare and empowerment of these unsung heroines.
On Saturday, June 21, 2025, the President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Oghogho G. Musa, led a moving commemoration of International Widows’ Day at the Ihejirika Military Auditorium in Jaji, Kaduna State. The event brought together members of the Military Widows Association (MIWA), Kaduna Chapter, alongside invited dignitaries, support professionals, and members of sister associations.
In her heartfelt opening address, Mrs. Musa welcomed the guests and paid glowing tribute to the widows in attendance. Acknowledging their strength and perseverance, she noted that widowhood is not merely defined by loss, but by the daily acts of courage demonstrated by women who, despite burying a spouse, continue to raise families and contribute to society with grace. “A widow is not merely a woman who has lost her husband,” she said, “she is a woman who navigates life’s complexities with unyielding determination, her courage indelibly stitched into the fabric of her being.”
Mrs. Musa assured the MIWA members that DEPOWA deeply values their sacrifices and remains fully committed to their well-being. She emphasized that the Association’s support goes beyond symbolic gestures, encompassing tangible interventions such as skill acquisition training and educational support for their children. These, she explained, are aimed at equipping the widows for independence and long-term socio-economic stability.
The event was graced by several notable figures including the National President of the Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Architect Dr. Rakiya Abubakar; the President of MIWA; and other key stakeholders and resource persons whose presence reinforced the collaborative spirit of military family support networks.
Highlights of the emotionally uplifting day included interactive sessions designed to foster open conversation, words of encouragement from speakers, the presentation of souvenirs to the widows, and commemorative group photographs to mark the occasion.
International Widows’ Day, observed annually on June 23, was initiated to draw attention to the voices and experiences of widows across the globe, many of whom face social exclusion and economic deprivation. In the military context, these challenges are compounded by the reality of service-related loss. DEPOWA’s observance of the day serves not only to honour the memory of fallen heroes, but also to reaffirm a shared commitment to those they leave behind.
Mrs. Musa concluded the event with a message of hope and solidarity, urging the widows to remain steadfast in the knowledge that they are not forgotten and that DEPOWA will continue to stand by them in the journey ahead.
