Mrs Safiyyah Shaibu, the newly inaugurated 25th President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), has vowed to enhance welfare initiatives for families of serving, retired, and fallen army personnel.
Shaibu made the pledge while officially taking over the association’s leadership from her predecessor, Mrs Mernan Oluyede, who now serves as President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA).
In a statement by the NAOWA Liaison Officer, Maj. Abayomi Oni-Orisan, on Monday in Abuja, Shaibu commended Oluyede for her selfless leadership and promised to build on her achievements by expanding programmes focused on family welfare, women’s empowerment, and educational support.
She emphasised sustainability, inclusion, and innovation as her core priorities, noting that these values would drive initiatives aimed at improving the lives of military families and sustaining NAOWA’s legacy.
“Service remains the heartbeat of NAOWA. We will continue to empower, educate, and care for our communities because when military families thrive, the nation becomes stronger,” she said.
Shaibu, a Chartered Accountant and Forensic Accountant currently pursuing a PhD in Public Administration, is widely recognised for her impact-driven projects in military communities, especially in Borno, where she promoted access to education, healthcare, and vocational training.
In her farewell message, Oluyede expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and highlighted NAOWA’s strides in strengthening its institutional framework and expanding humanitarian outreach under her tenure.
She urged members to uphold unity and commitment to service, assuring that inter-association collaboration would continue to promote the welfare of military families nationwide.
The ceremony concluded with the signing of handover documents, presentation of the NAOWA flag, and group photographs symbolizing solidarity and continuity in service.