Thursday September 24, 2026
SituationREPORT
The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, DEPOWA, Mrs Mernan Oluyede, has paid a courtesy visit to the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy, NDA, Kaduna, as part of efforts to strengthen the association’s partnership with the academy and expand welfare support for military families.
The visit, which took place on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, was disclosed in a statement signed by the Nigerian Defence Academy Public Relations Officer, Major Njoka Irabor.
According to the statement, Mrs Oluyede led members of the DEPOWA National Executive Committee to the academy, where both institutions discussed areas of collaboration focused on education, healthcare delivery, welfare and other strategic initiatives for personnel and their families.
Speaking during the visit, the NDA Commandant, Major General Olatoye, commended DEPOWA for its consistent humanitarian interventions, particularly its support for widows of fallen military personnel and vulnerable families.
He praised Mrs Oluyede’s leadership, describing her welfare programmes as impactful and invaluable to the well-being of military families.
Major General Olatoye, commended DEPOWA for its consistent humanitarian interventions, particularly its support for widows of fallen military personnel and vulnerable families.
He praised Mrs Oluyede’s leadership, describing her welfare programmes as impactful and invaluable to the well-being of military families.
Mrs Oluyede, in her remarks, said the visit was aimed at deepening the existing relationship between DEPOWA and the NDA while unveiling the association’s newly developed DEPOWA Families’ Wellness Initiative.
She explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen the support system for members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Force and their families, adding that its pilot phase will be launched in Kaduna on September 25, 2026.
As part of the visit, the DEPOWA President met with widows of fallen NDA personnel at the NDA Drill Shed, Ribadu, where she distributed humanitarian assistance and offered words of encouragement.
She also visited the NDA Hospital in Ribadu and Afaka, where support items were presented to inpatients and nursing mothers.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Mrs Oluyede said the outreach reflected DEPOWA’s compassion, solidarity and appreciation for the sacrifices made by security personnel in service to the nation.
The Coordinator of the Nigerian Defence Academy Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs Oritseseyisan Olatoye, expressed appreciation for the visit, describing the outreach programmes as timely and reassuring for beneficiaries.
According to the statement, the visit ended with the presentation of souvenirs and a group photograph.
