ABUJA – Former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra said in Abuja on Wednesday that emphasis should be placed on supporting families of fallen military personnel.
Obi made the call as guest at the foundation-laying of NAOWA Model Secondary School and commissioning of block of classrooms by Nigeria Army Officers Wives at Kurudu, Abuja.
He also said education was a nation- builder and that building children through education was an investment in the future.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah, said NAOWA plays vital role in ensuring educational development in the country.
Minimah, special guest at the occasion, added that education plays a vital role in the development of the younger ones and that NAOWA’s recognition of it was commendable.
“I am particularly impressed by the efforts of the current NAOWA executives to improve standards and upgrade facilities in NAOWA schools nationwide.
“I am also happy to note that under the current NAOWA leadership, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) recently accredited the NAOWA Vocational Training Center.
“It is an innovation enterprise institution with the resultant change of name to NAOWA Institute of Management and Technology, Abuja’’, he said.
The chief of army staff noted the role of NAOWA in the nation’s development and expressed gratitude to wives of military personnel for their support to the army troops.
“NAOWA has continued to play a vital role in the development of the Nigerian army and the society as a whole, especially in the educational sector.
“You have remained resolute as the rock behind us and shared our pains, agonies and joys.
“You also bear the pain, the dislocation of marriage, family bond and child upbringing that you have suffered’’, he said.
He promised that the Nigerian Army would ensure that the secondary school was completed and operational as scheduled.
President of the association, Mrs Felly Minimah, said the new classrooms and the proposed secondary school could not have come at a better time considering the quest for better education by parents.
Felly also said that the association was concerned with providing basic amenities for the less-privileged in the army and the society.
“You will agree with me that the military profession is hazardous in nature. This has left many young women as widows and children as orphans.
“This has to a large extent deprived them and their family of essential amenities and basic education.
“This is therefore coming at the right time considering the increasing demand for education as a result of the ever increasing population in the society’’, she said. (NAN)
