Military families’ welfare critical to personnel morale, says Oluyede’s wife

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The President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, Mrs Mernan Oluyede, has said that the welfare and security of military families are critical to the morale and effectiveness of personnel serving the nation.

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According to her, the need to provide children of military personnel with safe, supportive and nurturing homes cannot be overemphasised.

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She said the demands of military service, including deployments, prolonged absence from home, frequent relocation and the uncertainties associated with the profession, placed unique pressures on officers’ spouses and children.

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Speaking at a child welfare programme organised by the National Defence College Officers’ Welfare Association on Wednesday in Abuja, Oluyede noted that resilient military families give personnel the peace of mind needed to focus fully on their duties.

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“When our children are secure, properly educated and emotionally supported, our homes become more resilient. When our homes are resilient, our personnel are better positioned to discharge their responsibilities with confidence and peace of mind,” she said.

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The DEPOWA president said strong families would strengthen the morale of personnel, adding that improved morale would in turn strengthen security institutions and national security.

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She also called on parents and caregivers to pay greater attention to children’s mental and emotional wellbeing, noting that children might not always be able to express anxiety, loneliness, fear and other pressures.

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Oluyede further urged parents to increase their awareness of the risks children face online, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, online exploitation and misinformation.

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She said protecting children in the digital age required parental engagement, continuous communication and the creation of safe spaces where children could discuss their experiences.

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The president also commended the National Defence College Officers’ Welfare Association for organising the programme, describing its focus on education, child protection and the impact of social media as timely.

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Earlier, the Coordinator of the association, Mrs Hauwa Ahmed, said the organisation remained committed to promoting the welfare of women, children and vulnerable members of society through seminars, medical interventions and community outreach.

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Ahmed said the programme was designed to deepen understanding of child wellbeing, education, protection and the opportunities and risks associated with social media.

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She stressed that child welfare was a shared responsibility involving parents, schools, communities, government institutions, religious organisations and other stakeholders.

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She urged participants to apply the lessons from the programme in their homes and communities, particularly in guiding children towards safe and responsible use of digital platforms.

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