In Ebonyi State, wives of security officers get N250,000 each to start a business; in Anambra police spouses provide food and job tools for widows. OGOCHUKWU ANIOKE and NWANOSIKE ONU report
It is a season of receiving and giving. For wives of security personnel in Ebonyi State it was a time to stretch forth their hands to receive a N250,000 cheque each from the state government. The gesture was to enable the women start up a business and support their husbands and families.
In Anambra State, police officers’ wives preferred to brighten the lives of widows and other needy people in the state. Some of the beneficiaries got sewing machines, some foodstuff, but all got much-needed affection from the police spouses.
No fewer than 403 wives of security personnel in the state drawn from the police, army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence and others were given N250,000 each to start a business of their choice in the state.
The event, which coincided with a campaign by Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), child abuse and other harmful practices, was attended by the wife of the Inspector-General of Police Princess Asma’u Idris.
Speaking on the occasion, Umahi said the gesture was part of his administration’s empowerment policies aimed at improving the economic standard of the people in the state.
He said, “I believe that for our nation to move forward, if we are fighting corruption, we should also fight the root of corruption. So I advocate that our society must provide opportunities for everybody to engage in doing one thing or the other and this is the basis of our empowerment in Ebonyi State
“In the area of empowerment in Ebonyi, we are doing more empowerment than projects. We have empowered one 1000 Ebonyians with a grant of N250,000 each and this is money that is not returnable to the state government.
“Ebonyians doing hawking in Lagos, we also empowered them with a grant of one hundred and forty million naira and a number of them out of the street, Ebonyians in Onitsha who are riding okada due to a lot of accidents, we purchased 400 brand new tricycles and given to them”.
“Four thousand widows have been given a grant of N100,000 each…We give out 50 million every month to the office of religious and welfare matters to pay off all hospital bills of all residents of Ebonyi State with free gifts.
“One hundred brand new jeeps to our traditional rulers I am not sure there is any other state that has given brand new jeep to traditional rulers. And these are funds that are not returnable to the state government.
Wife of the Inspector General of Police and POWA President, Mrs. Asma’u Ibrahim Idris commended Governor Umahi and his wife for empowering the wives of security personnel in the state.
While urging the beneficiaries to judiciously manage the funds given to them Mrs Idris encouraged them to support their husbands and also extend their hands of fellowship to others.
She promised to make case for Ebonyi girls in the ongoing police recruitment.
The atmosphere was electric in Anambra state when the wife of the inspector General of police, Princess Asmau Idris stormed the state to empower seven widows and 30 other women in the state.
She led over 200 other officer’s wives under the Police Officers Wives Association POWA and police Wives Association (PIWA) to walk against child trafficking and drug abuse in children.
She was equally joined in the campaign and empowerment by the state Commissioner of police, Mr Garba Umar, the state chairperson of POWA, Hajiya Khadija Fayek Umar, the wife of the police commissioner.
POWA’s programme was in conjunction with the wife of Anambra State governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, who was represented by the wife of the deputy governor, Lady Oby Okeke.
The wife of the Deputy inspector General of police and zonal coordinator POWA in the south east, Mrs Chioma Ntomchukwu was also on hand for the walk and empowerment.
The seven widows empowers by POWA were those who lost their husbands in the police, especially the rank and file, including 30 others.
Fifteen sewing machines were distributed to them, including bags of rice, gallons of groundnut oils and many other items.
It was part of her two-day official visit to the state to re-commission the re-branded secretariat of POWA in Awka
While addressing the police officers, she said the most important thing in life was peace in the homes and the society. She also commended the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his wife, Ebelechukwu for adequately supporting the police in the state.
Mrs Idris said the empowerment of the women in the police ranks had not ended, as it would cut across to the youth in less than no time.
In her address, the wife of the state Commissioner of police and POWA chairperson in the state, Hajiya Khadija Fayek Umar, said the aim of the association was to develop the late officers wives who lost their lives for the country to become treasures and meaningful in the society irrespective of their marital status.
She said POWA was not just an association, but an association that was interested in empowerment of the women, youths and vice versa which was strong, supportive and dictated since inception.
During the awareness campaign that took off from the police headquarters in Amawbia, a distance of seven kilometres to Eke -Awka market, Mrs idris said child trafficking and abuse of drugs by the children were giving everyone headache in the country.
“It is a popularly held belief that the youths of any nation are the leaders of tomorrow. They are the vehicles through which positive changes can be realised.”
“This is why many tend to invest on the future developments of its youths, governments, parents and guardians devote a lot of time and resources to order to explore and harness the potentialities of youth.
“Therefore, societies that neglect youth development may negatively affect future national development. Youth when neglected, can find escape and solace in such things as drug abuse, cultism, pick pocketing, loitering, rape, auto theft, truancy, delinquent or criminal act and indulgency”
The market women and children were addressed at the roundabout along Zik Avenue by the POWA executive and state government led by the commissioner for health, Dr Joe Akabuike.
Lectures on drug abuse were delivered by the state Director, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, Mr Sule Momodu, a Professor of clinical Psychology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Unizik, Awka, Prof Ugokwe Osayi.
Speaking with The Nation, the wife of the state Commissioner of police, Hajiya Umar, said POWA had decided to take such initiative because of the decadence in the society, especially on the part of children.
Some of the widows who benefited from the POWA empowerment, Mrs Constance Jonah, Anthonia Tosin told the Nation that they were grateful to POWA for remembering them, adding that such empowerment would help their families a great deal.
