Abuja: The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) has inaugurated the NAOWA Multipurpose Cooperative Society (NMCS) to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacity and economic wellbeing of women in military barracks nationwide. The President of NAOWA, Mrs. Safiyyah Shaibu, at the unveiling on Thursday, said the initiative was designed to provide a dependable platform for members to save, access credit, and grow sustainable businesses.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the cooperative was conceptualised and developed by her predecessor and current President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Merna Oluyede. She explained that the initiative aligns with NAOWA’s commitment to improving the welfare of officers’ wives, young entrepreneurs, and widows of fallen heroes. Mrs. Shaibu expressed pride in the cooperative’s launch, emphasizing its role in promoting economic self-reliance within their communities.
The current NAOWA President commended Mrs. Oluyede for her leadership in laying the foundation for the cooperative, noting it was appropriate for her to perform the formal launch. She pledged NAOWA’s full support to maintain transparency and reliability within the cooperative for all members.
Mrs. Oluyede, the President of DEPOWA, remarked that the cooperative was ‘a vision born in one administration and nurtured into reality by another.’ She initiated the idea during her tenure as NAOWA President and expressed satisfaction in witnessing its realization under her successor, underscoring the strength of leadership that transcends personal tenure. The cooperative aims to help women cushion financial challenges associated with military life, including frequent transfers and separation from spouses.
Beyond providing loans, the cooperative will offer structure, discipline, and training for women to grow small businesses, build savings, or secure future investments. Mrs. Oluyede highlighted that NAOWA’s efforts extend beyond personal gains, focusing on ensuring community solidarity and financial literacy.
A member of the NMCS Management Committee, Mrs. Eyotoyosi Sonibare, explained that the cooperative had evolved from a concept seven months ago into a resilient institution driven by shared purpose and the collective spirit of NAOWA members. The cooperative is designed to provide economic advancement opportunities through various ventures like agriculture, trading, manufacturing, and real estate.
Mrs. Sonibare emphasized the cooperative’s goal to deepen financial independence, promote wealth creation, and enhance social cohesion within NAOWA, resonating with its tagline, ‘Together we thrive, together we grow.’ She expressed confidence in the cooperative’s potential to become a model of excellence and a symbol of unity for future generations.