The Defence and Police Officers Wives’ Association (DEPOWA) marked this year’s International Widows’ Day with a solemn but empowering ceremony at the Ihejirika Military Auditorium in Jaji, Kaduna State, where the President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Oghogho Gwabin Musa, hosted members of the Military Widows Association (MIWA), Kaduna chapter.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Defence and Police Officers Wives’ Association (DEPOWA) marked this year’s International Widows’ Day with a solemn but empowering ceremony at the Ihejirika Military Auditorium in Jaji, Kaduna State, where the President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Oghogho Gwabin Musa, hosted members of the Military Widows Association (MIWA), Kaduna chapter.
The event, held on Saturday, June 21, 2025, was a tribute to the courage, strength, and resilience of widows of fallen military personnel, and a reaffirmation of DEPOWA’s commitment to supporting them through sustainable empowerment initiatives.
In her moving opening address, Mrs. Musa paid glowing tribute to the widows, applauding their strength in the face of unspeakable loss and hardship.
“A widow is not merely a woman who has lost her husband,” she said. “She is a woman who navigates life’s complexities with unyielding determination, her courage indelibly stitched into the fabric of her being.”
She emphasized that the Association not only recognizes the sacrifices made by military widows but is also determined to support them beyond symbolic gestures.
“We reaffirm DEPOWA’s unwavering commitment to providing meaningful support — from vocational training to educational assistance for their children — all designed to empower them and create lasting, positive change,” Mrs. Musa stated.
Also present at the event were the National President of the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), Arc. Dr. Rakiya Abubakar, and the President of MIWA, alongside resource persons and other dignitaries who lent their voices to the importance of widow empowerment and community resilience.
The event featured interactive sessions, inspiring testimonials, presentations of souvenirs to widows, and group photographs that captured the day’s emotional and celebratory moments.
International Widows’ Day, observed globally on June 23, serves to highlight the voices and experiences of widows and to galvanize support towards improving their welfare and integration into society. In Jaji, DEPOWA ensured that this year’s commemoration was not just ceremonial, but a tangible expression of solidarity and hope.
Mrs. Musa concluded her remarks with a message of encouragement, urging the widows to continue standing tall, knowing that they are not forgotten.
“You are not alone. Your strength is our strength, and your stories inspire us to keep fighting for a better future for every widow across the nation,” she said.
DEPOWA President Celebrates Resilient Military Widows at International Widows’ Day in Jaji
