By Evelyn Usman

Emotion ran high weekend, at different orphanage homes and Army Reference hospitals in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states , as orphans , widows and wounded soldiers undergoing treatment, were lavished with relief materials by the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association, NAOWA.

The Humanitarian Outreach programme by NAOWA, was part of activities lined up for the Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL 2021, an annual event intended to reflect on the performance of the Nigerian Army , celebrate its achievements and project it as an important symbol of national power, unity, integration and development.

NAOWA National President, Mrs. Salamatu Farouq, who led members of the association during the distribution of relief materials, explained that the gesture was borne out of the desire to reach out to the needy, wounded officers and less privileged in the society.

Farouq who was represented by wife of the Commander , Corps of Engineers, Nigerian Army, Mrs. Adebukola Kadiri, further explained that the visit was to give a sense of belonging to people with medical challenges and orphans, so as to reassure them that they were not alone.

While advising orphans to look at the bright side of life, she assured them of better days ahead.

Explaining the reason for the visit, she said, “The little we have brought here today is a way of showing that we care for them and I am also promising them that we shall continue to do our best as a humanitarian organisation to give succor to the less privileged in our society.

“At his juncture, I commiserate with those that have lost their loved ones while defending our great nation. It is my prayer that the almighty God will comfort and console them all,” she said.

She lauded efforts of the association’s national president for her support to the Nigerian Army Engineers. . She also commended the Chief Medical Director, 68 Nigerian Army Reference hospital, Yaba, Col. Solomon Oluseyi for his medical assistance to patients.

In his remark, Col. Oluseyi eulogised the association for the kind gesture, noting that the hospital always looked forward to the visit as it always left an unforgettable memories in patients, babies, mothers and some of the wounded soldiers.

He said, “We appreciate each time they visit us. When they come ,they extend a hand of fellowship to patients by giving them gifts which are able to elevate their mood. Seeing someone come to visit them while they are in the hospital is soul lifting because some patients don’t even have anybody come to visit them when they are on admission. “So, when we see NAOWA members coming out to visit them ,we are always happy because they extend gifts to them and which go a long way to assisting the patients and provide some sort of succour for them” ,he said.

On his part, General Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross, Mr. Lasisi also appreciated NAOWA for its support to the society, stating that it would go a long way in their support system to orphans.

Places visited included orphanage homes in Lagos, Ogun State s and the 42 Engineers Brigade, Ibadan.

Others were the 68 Army Reference hospital, Red cross Head office, 81 battalion Ibadan and 12 FER Ijebu Ode, Ogun.

Items donated were bags of rice, toiletries, beddings, baby clothes, salt, noodles, vegetable oil and diapers among others.