Two hundred and thirty two (234) barracks youths who are undergraduates in different universities across Nigeria have been trained on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and entrepreneurial skills by the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) as part of the association’s youth development project.
The youths were trained in five programmes which are: IT Essentials, Get Connected, Introduction to Cyber Security, Python, and Web Design.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, President of NAOWA and Wife of the Chief of Army Staff, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, said the youth project was aimed at positively engaging youth in the barracks by committing them to learning activities in the areas ICT and skills that would enhance their academic pursuit as well as their productivity in various spheres of life.
According to her, the project was initially targeted at students of public universities who were at home due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU).
She said although the initial plan was to train 400 youth, however, when the registration commenced over 400 participants pleaded to be registered for the programme.
“Their plea and NAOWA consideration for the betterment of all youth in the barracks led to the expansion of the programme to accommodate Secondary School Certificate Holders who are yet to gain admission into higher institutions of learning.
“Currently, over 800 students from various barracks within the FCT have registered for the NAOWA Youth Development Project,” she said.
The NAOWA president expressed delight that the association’s Youth Development Project was yielding positive results.
She said, “The first stream of trainees that are graduating today are the undergraduate trainees affected by the strike action carried out by ASUU, the training commenced with 236 trainees, out of which 234 successfully completed the training and would be graduating today.
“It is heartwarming that the NAOWA Youth Development Project is yielding positive results as these trainees would be going back to their respective schools with added knowledge that would have significant impact in their educational pursuit and career development.”
In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, assured youths and wards of Nigerian army personnel of his continuous support to ensure that they acquire skills that would make them self-reliant and employers of labour.
“I want to assure you all that resources will be provided and you will be supported on any initiative that will empower, train and educate our youth in the barracks,” he said.
The COAS tasks the trainees on hard work to be of good character and positive representation of the military community in their areas of endaevour.
“That is why I want to encourage the trainees not to relent on the training they have had and these five weeks would have told them that if you are committed and determined you can do anything and you can achieve results.
“You see all the recipients, you see their background, you see their parentage. So if they concentrate and remain committed and dedicated they can excel and be all they want to be.
“With innovation and creativity, you can be your own employer and you don’t necessarily need to add to the long queue of unemployed,” he said.
Also speaking, the President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs Vickie Irabor, advised the youths not to use skills acquired to engage in cybercrimes.
“Utilise the knowledge and skills with the utmost regard for upholding morality in practice. Much knowledge always comes with responsibility. The world today is faced with cyber-crime and terrorism, you should not utilise the knowledge you acquired negatively,” she said.
Similarly, a former NAOWA President, Mrs Hadiza Dambazau, also applauded NAOWA for continuously impacting positively on the lives of the spouses and wards of Nigerian army personnel, and less privileged members of the society.
Dambazau said the event was another testimony to the foresight of NAOWA towards educating and equipping barracks youths for a better future.
She said the programme would no doubt empower and assist the beneficiaries in becoming self-reliant.
