By Sanee Yarima
The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) 6 Brigade Chapter joined the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, with a resounding call to accelerate action for women’s empowerment.
The colourful occasion featured, among others, the donation of cash grants to barracks women and female youth corps members to support and expand their businesses.
A statement signed by Captain Olubodunde Oni, the Acting Assistant Director of Army Public Relations 6 Brigade Nigerian Army, said the event was held in Jalingo on Saturday, 8 March 2025.
In her welcome address, the NAOWA 6 Brigade Zonal Coordinator, Dr. (Mrs) Rachael Uwa, emphasized that IWD is not just a celebration but a movement, a call to action, and an opportunity for deep reflection on the collective journey toward an equitable society.
Speaking on the year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” Dr. Uwa highlighted that while progress has been made in advancing the rights and opportunities of women, much remains to be done.
“True empowerment goes beyond mere words or symbolic gestures; it demands deliberate steps, strategic policies, and a sustained commitment to breaking barriers that hinder women’s full participation in social, economic, and political spheres,” she noted.
She further urged women to recognize their power as catalysts for transformation, stating. “We are not just participants in today’s program; we are architects of a future where every woman is empowered, every girl is given a chance, and no dream is limited by gender.”
Dr. Uwa expressed deep appreciation to her beloved husband, the Commander 6 Brigade Nigerian Army Brigadier General Kingsley Chidiebere Uwa, for his unrelenting and solid support in making the event a reality.
She specially thanked the NAOWA National President, Mrs Mernan Oluyede, and the Chairperson of NAOWA 3 Division, Dr. (Mrs) Temitope Oyinlola, for their unwavering support in making the event a defining moment in NAOWA’s mission to empower women.
The event also featured an awareness walk led by the Zonal Coordinator, reinforcing the message of gender equality and collective action.
This was followed by a seminar session, where renowned female advocacy lawyer Barrister Shallom Maijankai delivered a compelling lecture on “Accelerate Action for Women.”
Barrister Maijankai, in her presentation, stressed that gender equality is not a competition between men and women but a shared vision for a more inclusive society.
“The rise of women is not about the fall of men. Equality knows no gender. Every woman should be a light and a ray of hope that accelerates progress toward an equal and sustainable future for the girl child,” she said.
