The NAOWA Model Nursery and Primary School in Ojo, Lagos State, now includes a 500-seat multipurpose hall, a block of six classrooms, and an information and communication technology (ICT) centre, all thanks to the efforts of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA).
The NAOWA President, Mrs. Salamatu Yahaya, broke ground on the project in January and it was recently finished and inaugurated.
During the Thursday inauguration ceremonies in Lagos, Yahaya declared that the buildings would be used to fulfil her goal of “Sustaining Legacies and Upholding the Tenets of Unity and Service.”
“This inauguration is a continuation of the process of sustaining established legacies of our predecessors through continuous structural developments.
“It is another stride in strengthening the NAOWA narrative by improving on the legacies of our predecessors as a hallmark of unity, charity and continuity,” she said.
After finishing construction on the NAOWA multipurpose hall, Yahaya dedicated it to the NAOWA women who had made an impact via the education they had given their children.
“We also resolved to name the block of six classrooms after my humble self as ‘MRS SALAMATU YAHAYA BLOCK.’
“The ICT Centre will be dedicated to the 37 Regular Course (RC) Queens for their tremendous efforts in advancing and establishing structural and humanitarian legacies across various Nigerian Army units and formations.
“This decision is aimed at preserving history as well as challenging prospective NAOWA leaders to establish sustainable legacies for which they would be remembered,” she said.
As the 22nd president of NAOWA, the current chief executive stated that a Need Assessment of NAOWA Nursery and Primary School was conducted upon her taking office.
“The report shows that the school which started in the year 1985 with 165 pupils currently has over 695 pupils.
“The significant increase in the number of pupils as well as the need to provide requisite infrastructural facilities for a standard school setting, propelled the initiative to construct these projects,” she said.
Yahaya stated that the organisation currently ran six universities, forty elementary and nursery schools, the NAOWA Institute of Management and Technology (NIMTA) in Abuja, and other event and vocation centres all over Nigeria.
“NAOWA has developed to become a leadership institution where members get firsthand experience in business/human resource management and public relations through diverse institutions.
“The association is also a major employer of labour with current employee strength of approximately 1,500 across the country; thereby, contributing immensely to the socioeconomic development of the nation.
“Considering the current standing, we can boldly say that the history of NAOWA will not be complete without mentioning the NAOWA Model Nursery and Primary School, Ojo,” she said.
Seven teachers and administrators were honoured for their continuous service of 10 years or more, and two others were recognised for their exceptional contributions to the school.
The president of NAOWA expressed gratitude to her husband, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), for his role as a key backer of the initiatives.
“Likewise, I wish to sincerely appreciate the 37 RC Queens for their combined effort in donating a 40KVA Mikano Generator to the school,” she said.
