By Dauda R Pam
The chief of Army staff,COAS, Lt Gen.Tukur Buratai,has said that the Nigerian Army is to collaborate with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists,NAWOJ, to reinvigorate the process of peace building and girl child education in the Northeast region.
The Chief of Army Staff, disclosed this when the National President of NAWOJ. Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole led a delegation of NAWOJIAN on a courtesy visit on him at the Military Command and Control Centre, Maiduguri on Tuesday.
He said that NAWOJ has the capacity to persuade the Boko Haram insurgents to have a rethink and embrace peace as no religion preaches violence, adding that their activities have thrown many women and children into untold hardship.
” the Nigerian Army is a gender mainstreaming institution that recognize women folk, hence the creation of Women Corp of the Nigerian Army,” he added.
While congratulating NAWOJ for attaining 30 years, the COAS said ” the Nigerian Army will collaborate with the NAWOJ through supporting your activities of peace building in the Northeast. We will also partner with you to ensure that children get back to school, more especially the girl child education in the region.”
General Buratai said ” the Nigerian Army will work with Borno state government to see to the establishment of a Command Girl Secondary school in addition to the One in Miringa and Auno in the state…”
sensitization of women in peace building is key in our drive to restore peace in the Northeast and NAWOJ has the spread and capacity to do that, assuring that the Nigerian Army will support them to achieve that,” he added.
Earlier. The National President of the NAWIJ,Mrs Ifeyinwa Omolola,said ” we are here in Maiduguri to thank you and also to show to the world that peace has returned to Maiduguri. We are thanking you because women and children are the most vulnerable in the Boko Haram crises ”
the task of returning peace in the Northeast and the nation, is a general task not for military alone, the NAWOJ will work closely with the Nigerian Army sensitizing women in the process of peace building we have to reach all members in all local govt, we also have the training and communication skills in peace building ” the President said.
The President said ” to achieve that we need your support in terms of corporate social responsibility to support us with logistics and security cover to take the campaign to the grassroots “.
She also solicited for the partnership with the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) in sensitization of youths against committing suicide as the case is now rampant among youths saying that ” no matter your problems are, there is hope for better tomorrow. If you fail examination today there are chance to pass tomorrow ”
The occassion also witnessed the presentation of certification of Anti terrorism Special award and the exceptional bravery and peace building in the northeast and lake chad basin by United Kingdom and global know Anti Terorrism accreditations Board and that the COAS is first African to receive the ‘Lion of Judah’ award.
