By Okosun Dennis
Women groups at Ikeja Cantonment on Thursday, 31st October, paid a thank you visit to the 9 Brigade Commander, Brig Gen Olawale Matthew Oyekola, for facilitating scholarship awards and admission for students in the Command Day Secondary School, Ikeja Cantonment.
The barracks women consisting of ‘Magajias’, widows of fallen heroes and mothers expressed satisfaction with his leadership approach since assumption of office, adding that such gesture has removed tears from their eyes.
It would be recalled that few weeks ago, about 17 selected children of widows attending Command Day Secondary School within the Cantonment, were presented cheques for tuition fees of their children for one year school fees (across three terms).
NAOWA 81 Division Chapter Chairperson, Mrs. Zainab Aliyu Farouk Mijinyawa, participated in the Widows’ Empowerment Programme organized by NAOWA 9 Brigade Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Olubukola Olayinka Oyekola and Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA), in collaboration with honorary members of the 9 Brigade Officers’ Mess.
In her remarks on behalf of the widows, Mrs. Perpetual Nwele thanked the Commander for standing in the void and facilitated their children’s scholarship, wiping out tears from their eyes.
“Despite the economic situation, you make our children to go to school and excel in their academic activities. When my daughter came home to announce the good news, I could see the joy that radiates in her.”
On her part, Mrs. Rabi Abdulkadir, who spoke on behalf of the mothers, observed that the scholarship and admission extended to over 72 children, lifted them from abyss and despair to hope and encouragement.
In his remarks, the Commander, 9 Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Brig Gen Olawale Matthew Oyekola empathized with the families of soldiers that lost their lives in various theatres of war, adding that the Nigerian Army and the Brigade would continue to assist them.
The initiative of the scholarship, according to him, was that of NAOWA 9 Brigade Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Olubukola Olayinka Oyekola, that paid for the 17 students. On admission, “my concern is to ensure that what is due to us, is given to us.”
“For those that didn’t get admission, it was strictly based on performance. They didn’t fail but couldn’t meet the cut off mark. They shouldn’t look at themselves as incompetent but strive to achieve merit.
“Tell your children to reduce whatever that would impugn on their academic activities – cut down play time – to meet their academic excellence and those that couldn’t meet up, should work harder in subsequent exams and compete favourably.”
Brig Gen Oyekola reiterated by calling on the women to continue to pray for the Nigerian Army and Armed Forces of Nigeria for successes in their different engagements, stressing that their visit has really lifted up his spirit and would continue to strive to achieve more.
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