From Seyi Tayese, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Air Force Officers’ Wives Association (NAFOWA), Mobility Command, Yenagoa, has empowered 18 widows of deceased Air Force personnel in Bayelsa.
The beneficiaries received livelihood support materials and equipment under the association’s 2026 Military-Civilian Relationship outreach programme.
The event, held on Wednesday at the Nigerian Air Force Sports Complex, Air Force Base, Opolo, Yenagoa, featured the distribution of sewing machines, wheelbarrows, poultry farming equipment and animal feeds.
Mrs Jennifer Onyebuchi, Chairperson of NAFOWA, Mobility Command, Yenagoa, represented the association’s National President, Mrs Ngozi Aneke, at the programme.
Speaking on the rationale for the intervention, Onyebuchi said it was inspired by the association’s commitment to service to humanity and the need to alleviate the suffering of widows.
“In keeping with NAFOWA’s motto, which is service to humanity, that is why we came up with this programme.
“Our National President, Mrs Ngozi Aneke, has led by example. She has done something like this nationally, and we are supposed to follow in her footsteps,” she said.
Onyebuchi said the association recognised the challenges faced by widows who suddenly assumed responsibility as breadwinners and heads of their families.
“We might not really know what they are going through, but I know they are going through a lot.
“It is not easy to suddenly become the breadwinner of the family. We have to do things from time to time to help them and alleviate their suffering,” she said.
She said the intervention was also intended to reassure the beneficiaries that they had not been forgotten despite the loss of their husbands.
“We want to give them hope that they are not forgotten,” she said.
In a related development, the outgoing Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Mobility Command, Air Vice Marshal Michael Onyebuchi, donated three tricycles to NAFOWA, Mobility Command, Yenagoa.
The donation was aimed at improving transportation within the barracks for women, children, junior officers and corps members without convenient means of mobility.
Onyebuchi said the gesture was also in appreciation of the cooperation, understanding and support he received from the association during his tenure as AOC.
He expressed the hope that the tricycles would ease the association’s operations and provide an avenue for generating income to support its activities.
The outgoing AOC handed over the tricycles to the association’s Secretary, Mrs Grace Onwuchekwa, with a charge to ensure their prudent and productive utilisation.
Onwuchekwa thanked the AOC on behalf of the association and its incoming chairperson, describing the donation as a welcome support to the organisation.
She pledged the association’s commitment to making effective use of the facilities.
