By Reportcircle Abuja
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has described the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) as a pillar of stability and a silent force reinforcing troop morale across the country.
He made the declaration on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, when the NAOWA President, Mrs. Safiyya Hassan Shaibu, led the association’s executive members on a courtesy visit to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
In his remarks, Lt.-Gen. Shaibu applauded NAOWA for sustaining programmes that directly strengthen families of serving personnel, noting that a soldier’s readiness begins at home.
He listed the association’s interventions in education, healthcare, community development and entrepreneurship as critical elements that allow officers and soldiers to carry out national security duties with focus and emotional balance.
The COAS stressed that the Army’s combat effectiveness is strengthened when families are stable, supported and empowered.
“While we defend the nation, NAOWA ensures our homes remain peaceful, providing the emotional and mental stability required for optimal performance,” he said.
He also urged the Association to intensify its campaigns on digital literacy, skills acquisition and fake news awareness for military families, describing them as essential tools in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
The Army Chief appealed for continued support in advancing the Army Command and NAOWA Hospital and encouraged NAOWA to extend similar home-support structures to the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA).
Earlier, NAOWA President Mrs. Safiyya Hassan Shaibu congratulated the COAS on his appointment and restated her commitment to building a more united, innovative and impactful association.
She outlined NAOWA’s strategic priorities, which include:
Women and youth empowerment
Education and healthcare support
Digital skills training
Entrepreneurship and financial sustainability
A flagship project under her administration is the proposed NAOWA Innovation Hub, an ultra-modern centre designed to equip military families with digital competencies and entrepreneurial skills.
She also announced plans to revitalise NAOWA facilities and initiatives across all Army formations.
The meeting underscored a mutual recognition that troop welfare is not driven by military hardware alone but also by the stability of homes behind the uniform.
With the Army Chief’s endorsement and NAOWA’s expanding initiatives, the association appears set to deepen its role as a crucial support pillar for Nigeria’s defence architecture.
