Wife of Ondo State Governor Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu wants members of Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) to be more proactive in order to attract more dividends of democracy to their barracks.
Mrs Akeredolu gave this challenge while receiving in audience a delegation of members of NAOWA 2 Division led by the Wife of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division Ibadan, Mrs Chioma Azinta and the Wife of the Commander 32 Artillery Brigade Owena Barrack Akure, Mrs Anthonia Ataguba, who called on her at the Government house Akure.
Mrs Akeredolu said it is the duty of such Organizations as NAOWA to furnish Government with relevant and convincing information that will bring about development in their domain.
Akeredolu said “There is nothing wrong with your Organization letting the Ministry of Education know about the need to site a school in your barrack. You have to do your own home work. You don’t just say site a School in the barrack, get the number of kids in the barrack. Most times government would like to see data. The nearest School to the barrack is this kilometers, you wouldn’t want to put the lives of your children in danger, before you know it, it is captured in the next budget. Take your advocacy or needs to the appropriate quarters and package them well, that’s my advice for you.”
Mrs Akeredolu also used the occasion to preach the message of healthy living and the need to promote good Sanitation in the barracks.
Earlier in her speech, the wife of the GOC 2 Division, Mrs Chioma Azinta said the members of NAOWA a non profit, non Governmental, Organization founded in the year 1963 were in Government house to familiarise with the First Lady.
Mrs Azinta said NAOWA objectives which include; assisting the poor and the needy and raising the standard of living in the barracks of the nation depend on Government aids and donations from well spirited individuals and Organizations to be accomplished.
While appreciating the Akeredolu led administration for their intervention on the barracks road construction, Azinta requested for a school to be sited in their barrack
and for the provision of a welfare package for the windows of their fallen heroes.
In her vote of thanks, the NAOWA Akure PRO Mrs Omosola Ayoola expressed gratitude to Ondo State First Lady for granting them audience out of her tight schedule and pledged NAOWA’s support for her programs especially as it concerns women empowerment.