Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has commended the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association, DEPOWA, for its humanitarian initiatives aimed at supporting widows and children of Nigeria’s fallen heroes, pledging his administration’s full support for their programmes.
The Governor gave the assurance on Wednesday when he received the President of DEPOWA, Mrs. Oghogho Musa, wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, and her delegation at Government House, Asaba.
Welcoming the team, Oborevwori described Mrs. Musa as a proud daughter of Delta, recalling his long-standing relationship with the Musa family and expressed delight that she has chosen Asaba as the venue for DEPOWA’s empowerment seminar for widows drawn from Delta, Edo, Anambra, and Enugu States.
“It is my great pleasure to welcome you home. Your commitment to uplifting the families of our fallen heroes is deeply commendable. As a government, we are proud to be associated with initiatives that give hope, skills, and opportunities to widows, helping them to build sustainable livelihoods,” the Governor said.
Oborevwori noted that his administration had only last month empowered 10,000 widows across Delta State through skills training, financial grants to enable them start small-scale businesses and free access to medical care.
He stressed that the sacrifices of fallen heroes must never be forgotten, adding that the state would continue to champion causes that secure a brighter future for their families.
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Earlier, Mrs. Musa said DEPOWA was a coalition of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA), Naval Officers Wives Association (NOWA), Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives Association (NAFOWA), and Police Officers Wives Association (POWA).
She explained that the group, founded to support members whose spouses are often away on national duty, has evolved into a platform for humanitarian and development services, with widows and orphans of fallen heroes as its main beneficiaries.
Highlighting their ongoing training seminar for widows, Mrs. Musa said the programme was designed to provide emotional support, empowerment opportunities, and financial literacy for participants, while easing the pain of grief and loss.
She also announced the establishment of the DEPOWA Future Leadership Academy in Abuja, set for commissioning in September 2026, which will provide automatic scholarships for children of fallen heroes as a lasting tribute to their parents’ sacrifices.
“Your Excellency, we are profoundly grateful for your impactful youth and women empowerment initiatives which align with our vision. With the DEPOWA Future Leadership Academy, we hope to build a living legacy for generations to come,” she said.
The visit, she noted, was also part of DEPOWA’s ongoing “Thank You Campaign”, a national initiative to celebrate and support Nigeria’s Armed Forces and Police personnel for their selfless service to the country.
