21 graduands emerge from NOWA Skills Acquisition Centre in Delta

The graduands

No fewer than 21 students have graduated from the maiden edition of the Naval Officers’ Wives Association (NOWA), Skills Acquisition Centre, Oghara chapter.

The graduation ceremony was held on Thursday at the barracks of the Nigerian Navy Logistics Command, Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta.

In her remark, Hajiya Nana Gambo, the special guest of honour and National President of NOWA said that the cardinal objective of the Association was to maximise the potential of the people through entrepreneurial skills.

The NOWA president who was represented by Mrs Juwaira Garuba noted that investment in vocational skills was vital to addressing the unemployment rates and their attendant consequences in society.

While underscoring the importance of skills acquisition, Gambo said that vocational training could not be wished away, particularly at a time when unemployment was becoming a global issue.

The wife of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo observed that the impact of unemployment was prevalent among youths, particularly female folks.

“I will like to thank Almighty Allah for making this day a reality as NOWA strives to empower women to be more productive and self-reliant through the creation of income-earning opportunities for the attainment of sustainable livelihood.

“No doubt, the prevalence of unemployment to an extent breeds insecurity including trafficking among other vices.

“Undeniably, one of the ways to ameliorate this challenge is to invest in entrepreneurship programmes that will maximise potentials through skills acquisition for self-reliance,” she said.

Gambo said that the Association would continue to strive in ensuring the empowerment of youths, orphans and widows within its resources for self-reliance and sustenance.

She thanked the NOWA Zonal Coordinator, Oghara chapter, Mrs Rhoda Olotu, the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Olumuyiwa Olotu for ensuring the seamless running of the Skills Acquisition Centre.

The NOWA leader also thanked the graduands as well as the facilitators and instructors for working assiduously towards achieving the association’s objectives.

Earlier, in her address of welcome, Mrs Olotu, the NOWA Zonal Coordinator, Oghara chapter and wife of Rear Adm. Olotu said that the Skills Acquisition Centre was established in 2021.

She added that the Centre had recorded remarkable progress in terms of staffing, equipment and training programmes.

The zonal coordinator attributed the successes to the commitment of her predecessor, Mrs Loveleen Lassa, wife of the immediate past FOC of the Command, Rear Admiral Siliranda Lassa.

“The 21 graduands have undergone intensive skills acquisition within the past few months. The training commenced with the 21 students having an even spread across the skills provided by the Centre.

“Some of the programmes include Fashion Designing, Catering services amongst others. Priorities and sponsorships were given to applicants within Oghara being the host community.

“This is to encourage more youths within our immediate environment to participate in the programmes provided by the Centre and to become seasoned entrepreneurs to support their livelihoods,” she said.

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