Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has commended the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) for its humanitarian initiatives targeted at supporting widows and children of Nigeria’s fallen heroes. He assured the association of his administration’s continued support for its programmes and objectives.
Governor Oborevwori gave the assurance on Wednesday during a courtesy visit by the President of DEPOWA and wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs. Oghogho Musa, and her delegation to Government House, Asaba.
Welcoming the DEPOWA President, the Governor described Mrs. Musa as a “proud daughter of Delta,” noting his longstanding relationship with the Musa family. He expressed delight that DEPOWA had chosen Asaba as the host city for its regional empowerment seminar, which includes 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.
Governor Oborevwori (left) receives a commemorative plaque from Mrs. Musa at Government House, Asaba.
Oborevwori noted that only last month, the state government empowered 10,000 widows across Delta State through skills training, financial grants to start small-scale businesses, and free access to medical care.
He emphasized that the sacrifices made by Nigeria’s fallen heroes must never be forgotten, pledging that his administration would continue to champion causes that ensure a brighter future for their families.
Earlier in her remarks, Mrs. Oghogho Musa explained that DEPOWA is a coalition of servicewomen’s associations, including 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).
Governor Oborevwori (middle) with Mrs. Oghogho Musa (8th right), Brig. Gen. Moronfolu Shonibare (7th right), Dr. Mininim Oseji (7th left) Delta State Head of Service and other DEPOWA members during the visit.
She noted that while the association was originally established to support families of officers serving the nation, it has evolved into a platform for development-focused humanitarian services, with widows and orphans of fallen heroes as its primary beneficiaries.
Highlighting the ongoing training seminar in Asaba, Mrs. Musa said the programme is designed to provide emotional support, empowerment opportunities, and financial literacy to participating widows, while also helping them cope with grief and loss.
She also announced the establishment of the DEPOWA Future Leadership Academy in Abuja, scheduled for commissioning in September 2026. The academy, she said, will offer automatic scholarships to 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,” Mrs. Musa stated.
She added that the visit formed part of DEPOWA’s ongoing “Thank You Campaign”, a national initiative aimed at celebrating and supporting Nigeria’s Armed Forces and Police personnel for their selfless service to the country.
