General
Army Officers Wives Empower 100 Women In Lagos
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
About 100 women in Lagos State have been empowered with working equipment by the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA).
This, it was gathered, is part of its objectives to raise women’s standard of living.
The beneficiaries were presented with the equipment to work with by the National President of NAOWA, Mrs Umma-Kaslum Buratai at the Ojo Cantonment, Lagos.
Mrs Buratai said she was pleased that the women and youths living in the barracks were beneficiaries of the laudable entrepreneurship initiative.
“NAOWA’s Empowerment Initiative is thriving considering government’s drive to encourage local production and reduce importation of goods into the country. In view of this, NAOWA engaged the services of well-trained instructors who are conversant with the barrack’s mentality, interest and people.
“This certainly made the learning environment conducive as the participants were trained for two weeks on a familiar terrain and in various fields such as catering and hotel management, fashion and textile, cake, bead and soap making as well as barbing salon and hair dressing,” Mrs Buratai said.
She reiterated that the decision of NAOWA to assist and empower women was aimed at reducing joblessness.
“There is no job so we deemed it necessary to train these people so that they can start up something on their own,” the NAOWA President stressed.
The renovated NAOWA’s Nursery and Primary School at the Cantonment was also inaugurated.
“The renovation is part of the contributions the association is making to provide good schools in the barracks…This is because education is the key to development and there is no better investment we can make other than investing in education, to ensure that our children are educated in a conducive environment.
“On my assumption of office as the NAOWA president, I paid a visit to this school and the learning condition of the school was deplorable. It was against this background that we decided to renovate the school and we are going to extend this exercise to other parts of the country,’’ she explained.
The wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode said she was impressed with the renovation and the empowerment initiative.
Mrs Ambode stated that NAOWA, a progressive association had been able to take care of women, children and youths.
“The association has continually complemented the efforts of both state government and the Nigerian government towards improving the lives of members of their dependants,’’ she added.
Mrs Ganiat Bolaji represented the wife of the Lagos State Governor at the event.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Yahaya Isa expressed her gratitude to the association for empowering her and promised to make good use of the equipment.
Another beneficiary, Kadijat Umar, thanked the NAOWA President for the initiative, saying that it was a way out of the unemployment problem.
Some of the equipment given to the beneficiaries were sewing machines, hair clippers, hair dressing equipment, among others.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, has disclosed that the state government has not restricted the movement of people during the re-introduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Responding to an enquiry by an X user, Faveo Autos, on Saturday, he said the exercise was not brought back to restrict the movement of residents, noting that arresting anyone during the sanitation was unlawful and not backed by law.
However, he encouraged Lagosians to use the period to keep their surroundings clean.
“What is the fine for movement during environmental [sanitation]?” Mr Wahab was asked by Faveo Autos today.
In his response, the Commissioner said, “For clarity, there is no restriction on movement during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. Consequently, arresting anyone on the basis of movement during the exercise is unlawful and does not represent the position or policy of the Lagos State Government.
“The monthly environmental sanitation exercise was reintroduced primarily to restore and strengthen the culture of environmental cleanliness across the state.
“The initiative is backed by the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, 2017. However, the law does not provide for any restriction on movement during the exercise.
“Our focus is on encouraging Lagosians to embrace environmental sanitation as a civic responsibility and a shared commitment to maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Lagos, rather than relying on enforcement measures.”
Life is full of unexpected moments that test our patience, strength, and perspective. Everyone experiences setbacks, disappointments, and periods of uncertainty. While these moments can feel overwhelming, they also provide opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery.
One of the most valuable lessons we learn is that difficult situations rarely last forever. Time, reflection, and a willingness to adapt often help us move beyond even the toughest circumstances. Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on practical solutions can make a significant difference.
Relationships also play an important role in overcoming hardships. Support from family, friends, or mentors reminds us that we are not alone. At the same time, learning to let go of anger and resentment can free us from emotional burdens that prevent us from moving forward.
The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive. It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live. Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.
Personal growth is not about avoiding challenges but about responding to them with resilience and wisdom. Every experience, whether positive or negative, contributes to the person we become. By embracing change and practicing gratitude, we can create a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
In the end, moving forward requires courage, forgiveness, and hope. When we choose to focus on what we can control instead of dwelling on the past, we open ourselves to new opportunities and a brighter future.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The establishment of four new army divisions has been approved by President Bola Tinubu, bringing the total to 12.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, it was stated that the President also authorised the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel to strengthen national security.
The new divisions created include 5 Division, with the headquarters in Makurdi covering Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States; 9 Division, with the headquarters in Ilorin covering Kwara and Niger States; 10 Division, with the headquarters in Jalingo covering Taraba and Adamawa States; and 83 Division, with the headquarters in Benin City covering Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States.
It was disclosed that the establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.
Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases. The first phase, covering the establishment of the 5, 9, and 10 Divisions and the reorganisation of existing formations, will be completed by September 2026. The second phase, involving the establishment of the 83 Division and further reorganisation, is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The statement said the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions will improve the operational effectiveness of the security agency and strengthen national defence capabilities further.
Before now, the Nigerian Army operated 1 Division, with the headquarters in Kaduna covering Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States; 2 Division, with the headquarters in Ibadan covering Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States; 3 Division, with the headquarters in Jos covering Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States; 6 Division, with the headquarters in Port Harcourt covering Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States; 7 Division, with the headquarters in Maiduguri covering Borno and Yobe States; 8 Division, with the headquarters in Sokoto covering Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States; 81 Division, with the headquarters in Lagos covering Lagos and Ogun States; and 82 Division, with the headquarters in Enugu covering Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States.
Mr Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s determination to continue investing in the Armed Forces, ensuring they remain adequately equipped, highly motivated, and fully capable of protecting the nation and guaranteeing the safety and security of all Nigerians.
He lauded the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Ibrahim Shuaibu, and all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army for their dedication, professionalism, and steadfast commitment to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
