Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, says the Defence and Police Officers Wives Association, DEPOWA, has redefined the role of women in national defence and security in the country.

Olonisakin made the remark at the Mogadishu Cantonment, Asokoro, Abuja, when he inaugurated some block of classrooms, office and a 1,000-capacity multi-purpose hall in DEPOWA Nursery/Primary School.

According to him, the role being played by the association was evident in education and other social economic integration, which had benefitted the military and civil society at large.

He said DEPOWA had been championing the educational growth of children and wards of personnel of the armed forces, saying the association’s effort in improving quality of education has been tremendous, to say the least.

President of DEPOWA, Omobolanle Olonisakin, said the association’s plan was to transform and make its schools’ curriculum to have a blend of academic and vocational studies, supported by state-of-the-art facilities.

Olonisakin, said education was the key to development and DEPOWA cannot afford to be left behind, saying the association has taken steps to translate into reality its vision of according education its pride of place.

She said “DEPOWA stands in the place of parents for actualising the joint objective of delivering standard education to our children, saying they shall not be left behind at this period in history when the global overall policy thrust is to provide unhindered access to `compulsory Universal Basic Education’ to all citizens.”

The inauguration of the projects was part of activities to mark the 2019 “DEPOWA Week.’’

It had held a seminar for children with the theme “Importance of Education’’ and launched a book on “The Role of Women in National Defence and Security.’’

Members of the association had also visited School for the Deaf in Kuje, FCT, and made some donations as part of activities to mark the week.