NAOWA Celebrates International Women’s Day With Health and Empowerment Initiatives

NAOWA Celebrates International Women’s Day With Health and Empowerment Initiatives

The Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA) 3 Division chapter commemorated this year’s International Women’s Day with a series of impactful activities, including an awareness walk, health talks, and empowerment lectures. The theme for this year’s event is “Accelerate Action,”*which explains the need to quickly address and act on issues affecting women.

In her welcome address, the Chairperson of NAOWA 3 Division chapter, Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Oyinlola, urged women to recognize the urgent need for solutions that empower them and improve their lives. She emphasized that the theme “Accelerate Action” serves as a call to address issues affecting women swiftly, especially older women. Dr. Oyinlola acknowledged the collaboration and support of CHAI and the Federal Ministry of Health, which provided free eye tests and reading glasses to over 300 women and widows during the event.

The day’s activities began with business lectures, where women were guided on starting and managing businesses effectively, including overcoming common challenges. This was followed by a mental health awareness session, which encouraged women to prioritize their mental well-being while balancing home management responsibilities. A health talk on eye care was also conducted, educating participants on detecting signs of eye problems, maintaining eye health, and understanding the causes of common eye issues. The lecture series concluded with a reminder about the military rank system.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Oyinlola urged attendees to commit to prioritizing their health, seeking mental health support, sharing knowledge gained, and advocating for others. “Your voice matters,” she said. “Engage in conversations about eye health and mental health and encourage friends and family to undergo health screenings through initiatives like this.”

Highlights of the event included a sensitization walk, free medical tests, distribution of reading glasses, interactive sessions, souvenir presentations, and a group photograph. The celebration underscored NAOWA’s commitment to empowering women and addressing critical health challenges to enhance their quality of life.