President of the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association (NAOWA), Dr Safiyyah Hassan Shaibu, has been honoured with the Leading Emerging Women Leader in Africa Award for her contributions to women’s development and community service.
She received the award at the 10th anniversary of the Focus Africa Series, which brought together policymakers, development experts, women leaders and other stakeholders to discuss women’s leadership and development across Africa.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Shaibu delivered a keynote lecture titled _“From the Home Front to the Boardroom: How Women’s Resilience Strengthens Families and Communities Across the World.”_ She said women play a vital role in keeping families together and helping communities grow.
She described resilience as a quality that helps women face difficult situations while caring for their families, supporting their communities and taking on leadership responsibilities.
Drawing from her experience as the wife of a military officer, she said women in military families often shoulder extra responsibilities whenever their spouses are deployed.
According to her, those experiences prepare many of them for leadership roles in different areas of life.
“The home is not separate from leadership; it is where leadership is first nurtured and developed,” she said.
Dr Shaibu said investing in women benefits families, communities and the country.
She added that NAOWA would continue to support women and families through programmes in education, healthcare, entrepreneurship and social welfare
She acknowledged that more women are taking up leadership positions but said many still struggle to balance work and family life, while others have limited opportunities and receive little recognition for their efforts.
She urged governments, organisations and other stakeholders to invest more in mentorship, create opportunities for women and make leadership spaces more inclusive.
“As we look toward the future, there must be a conscious effort to recognize and value the strength that women bring from the home front into leadership spaces,” she said.
She rounded off her lecture with the words: “If you empower a man, you empower an individual, but if you empower a woman, you empower a nation.”
NAOWA Liaison Officer, Captain Jemila Jimoh, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
