By Odita Sunday
The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA), Mrs. Oghogho G. Musa, has charged members of the Defence Non-Commissioned Officers’ Wives Association (DENCOWA) to embrace personal development as a tool for family stability, entrepreneurship, and national security.
Speaking at the opening of a personal development training themed “Balancing Intentional Parenting, Entrepreneurship, and Personal Well-Being”, Mrs. Musa described the programme as a timely intervention aimed at equipping women to thrive in all spheres of life.
“On behalf of DEPOWA, it is my joy to host you today for this training,” she declared. “We believe that true empowerment begins at home and extends into business, community, and nation. That is why we are committed to supporting DENCOWA. When non-commissioned officers’ wives are equipped, their families are strengthened, and by extension, the entire Armed Forces community is uplifted.”
The DEPOWA President stressed the pivotal role of women in national development, noting that supporting the wives of servicemen directly impacts the morale and effectiveness of soldiers.
“As the saying goes: ‘If you educate a woman, you educate a nation.’ I would add: *‘If you empower the wife of a soldier, you strengthen the backbone of national security,’” she told the gathering.
Mrs. Musa further emphasized the need for balance between parenting, entrepreneurship, and personal well-being, insisting that self-care must not be seen as luxury but as necessity.
“Parenting, entrepreneurship, and self-care are not competing demands; they are interconnected. You cannot pour into your children or your business from an empty cup. Self-care is not selfish; it is survival, it is strength,” she noted.
The DEPOWA leader expressed gratitude to facilitators of the training and urged participants to fully embrace the sessions, not just for their personal benefit but for the wider good of their families and communities.
She concluded with a charge:
“Take these lessons home, apply them, and let today mark a turning point in your journey as wives, mothers, and women of strength.”