By Nkechi Eze
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has praised the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) for its sustained role in strengthening home front stability and improving the welfare of families of Army personnel.
According to a statement issued by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele, the COAS gave the commendation on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, during a courtesy visit by the NAOWA President, Mrs Safiyya Hassan Shaibu, and members of her executive team to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
Lieutenant General Shaibu highlighted the association’s crucial contributions in education, healthcare, community development and entrepreneurship, describing them as central to troops’ morale and overall operational efficiency. He said NAOWA’s interventions have helped create a supportive and peaceful home environment, allowing officers and soldiers to carry out their duties with greater focus and emotional balance.
He noted that while military personnel bear the responsibility of defending the nation, NAOWA plays an equally strategic role by ensuring they enjoy the psychological stability required for peak performance. The COAS stressed the need for increased awareness among military families on digital literacy, skills acquisition and identifying fake news, noting that technology now drives many aspects of national security and development.
Lieutenant General Shaibu also appealed for the association’s continued support in enhancing the Army Command and NAOWA Hospital, and encouraged further extension of similar support programmes to the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA) to boost inclusiveness across the home front.
Earlier, the NAOWA President congratulated the COAS on his appointment and outlined her administration’s agenda for a more united, innovative and impactful association. She said her vision is centred on empowerment, education, healthcare and long-term welfare initiatives that promote self-reliance for military families.
Mrs Shaibu unveiled upcoming NAOWA projects, including the establishment of a modern Innovation Hub to equip military families with digital and entrepreneurial skills, as well as the revitalisation of NAOWA programmes across Army formations nationwide.
She reaffirmed NAOWA’s commitment to complementing the Nigerian Army’s efforts by supporting families, strengthening morale and building resilient home environments for personnel.
