Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya CFR has tasked the 234 undergraduate trainees of the NAOWA Youth Development Project to be worthy ambassadors for the barracks of the army. COAS made the statement during the graduation ceremony for the 1st batch of beneficiaries of the intensive 6-week IT Skills and Entrepreneurship Training conducted at the NAOWA Institute of Management and Technology (NIMTA) Abuja. The graduation ceremony took place on November 3, 2022 at the NAOWA Event Center Mambilla Barracks Abuja. The graduates included undergraduate students from various Nigerian universities and were trained in the Infotech programs which include, Introduction to Cyber Security, Python Programming, Web Design, IT Essentials and Get-Connected.
Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya CFR, who was the special guest of honor at the event, urged the graduates to have exemplary conduct and to be innovative and creative with the knowledge and skills acquired during their training. The COAS took the opportunity to thank President NAOWA and the other members of NAOWA for the excellent initiative. He said the welfare of the barracks youth is important in the Nigerian Army’s human capital development initiatives. He assured NAOWA of his support and resources for the continuation of the program.
Earlier in her address, the mother of the day, Mrs. Hadiza Bello Dambazau, expressed her joy and described the graduates as lucky winners. She encouraged everyone to excel in their various fields of study. Ms. Dambazau also appreciated President NAOWA for her foresight and creativity.
The main guest of the occasion, Advocate Mrs. Vickie Anwuli Irabor, in her goodwill message, applauded the capacity building initiatives of President NAOWA and urged the graduates to positively explore the IT skills acquired.
Earlier in her opening remarks, NAOWA President Mrs. Salamatu F Yahaya said that the youth development project was conceived as part of measures to engage the youth in the barracks and also improve their skills in the field of information and communication technology (ICT) and other entrepreneurial skills that would help them in their academic and professional activities.
Mrs. Yahaya expressed her gratitude to Special Guest of Honour, Chief of Staff of the Army, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya for being the mainstay of support for all NAOWA activities .
She also appreciated all past NAOWA Presidents and other dignitaries who graced the event, while charging the graduates to make good use of the knowledge gained to enhance their educational pursuits and productivity within the Society.
The highlights of the event were the presentation of the student courses by the NIMTA rector, the practical exhibition of the graduates, the presentation of laptops and certificates to the outstanding students and volunteer facilitators, the cutting of the graduation cake studies, award ceremony and group photographs.
