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  • POWA empowers 300 widows, vulnerable police families

    POWA empowers 300 widows, vulnerable police families

    Three hundred widows and indigent women yesterday received succour from the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA).

    The beneficiaries, drawn from across 16 states of the country, were given starter packs, food stuff and other goodies to support their businesses and homes.

    The empowerment event, held at Onikan Stadium in Lagos, was part of activities lined up for this year’s POWA convention.

    Read Also: POWA raises team to engage 12 million women in agribusiness to drive food security

    According to POWA President, Dr. Elizabeth Egbetokun, the association was committed to ensuring self-sufficiency within police community.

    She said POWA has empowered over 3,000 widows and vulnerable police families, noting that the exercise is carried out three or four times yearly.

  • POWA empowers 300 widows, vulnerable police families

    POWA empowers 300 widows, vulnerable police families

    Three hundred widows and less privileged women have received succour from the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA).

    The beneficiaries, drawn from across 16 states of the country, were given starter packs, foodstuffs and other goodies to support their businesses and homes.

    The empowerment event, held at Onikan Stadium in Lagos, was part of the activities lined up for this year’s POWA convention.

    Read Also: POWA raises team to engage 12 million women in agribusiness to drive food security

    According to POWA President, Dr. Elizabeth Egbetokun, the association was committed to ensuring self-sufficiency within the police community.

    She said POWA has empowered over 3,000 widows and vulnerable police families, noting that the exercise is carried out three or four times yearly.

    Aside from empowering them, she said the association ensures monitoring and evaluation through their respective states, to keep up with their progress.

    “We target widows of officers who died in the line of duty, and wives of junior ranks to augment their income and help them support their families.

    “We have visited over 16 states of the federation, and during these visits, POWA distributed a range of skill acquisition items, including grinding machines, sewing machines, bubble hairdressing equipment, cooking gas, and wheelchairs, alongside essential food items.

    “A significant recent development is the commissioning of two POWA model schools, one at Pape Barracks in Abuja and another soon to open in Bauchi State, for the children of police officers and the wider community,” she said.

  • POWA raises team to engage 12 million women in agribusiness to drive food security

    POWA raises team to engage 12 million women in agribusiness to drive food security

    The Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) has inaugurated the National Soil to Security Campaign Team (SSC), a nationally coordinated mobilisation mechanism to engage 12 million young Nigerian women in transformative agribusiness education.

    The initiative, with active support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) Young Women in Agriculture (YWA), aims to support the current administration of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts at ensuring food security in the country.

    National President of POWA and wife of the Inspector General of Police, Dr.  Elizabeth Egbetokun, inaugurated the national campaign team during the association’s 61st anniversary celebration in Lagos.

    Mrs. Egbetokun, who doubles as the National Advocate for UNESCO REF Young Women in Agriculture (YWA) Initiative, disclosed that through the campaign, young women would break free from poverty by engaging in resilient, scalable agriculture that creates income, dignity, and national impact.

    She explained that the SSC Team operates as the official outreach and mobilisation engine under the UNESCO REF Strategic Intervention Programme – ALPHA (SIP-ALPHA) Framework, designed to advance food security, promote climate-smart agriculture, and deliver inclusive socioeconomic empowerment across all regions of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Sultan urges farmers to embrace agriculture for food security

    She said, “The initiative also serves as a strategic response to the Federal Government’s emergency declaration on food security made on July 13, 2023.

    “Through this campaign, we are enabling young women to break free from poverty by engaging in resilient, scalable agriculture that creates income, dignity, and national impact.

    Highlighting the strategic support and national alignment of the programme, the POWA President noted that the YWA Initiative and SSC Campaign would directly contribute to President Tinubu’s cardinal directive on food security and agribusiness transformation.

    She said this also aligns with the Renewed Hope Initiative led by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, prioritising women’s empowerment and inclusive development, adding that it would also help in Nigeria’s advancement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

    Speaking further on the programme framework, Egbetokun noted that the Young Women in Agriculture Initiative, Launched through the SIP-ALPHA Category II Strategic Framework, offers alternative crop-production models that overcome the limitations of conventional agriculture such as hydroponics farming or soilless cultivation using nutrient-rich solutions.

    She explained that the Soil to Security Campaign Team would serve as the official national mobilisation mechanism of the YWA Initiative.

    “The programme aims to achieve training and certification of 12 million YWA Champions by 2030; creation of sustainable agribusiness ecosystems led by women and youth, and expansion of domestic industrial inputs for packaging, textiles, and construction.

    “It is also focused on the advancement of poverty eradication and hunger reduction goals, positioning Nigeria as a continental leader in gender-inclusive, climate-resilient agriculture,” she added.

    On his part, the UNESCO REF President and National Coordinator, Young Women in Agriculture Nigeria, Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, said: “The future of food is no longer buried beneath the soil; it is engineered through knowledge, equity, and innovation.”

    He added that with the launch of the SSC Team, Nigeria demonstrates not only commitment to sustainable agriculture, but also to harnessing the transformative power of young women as architects of a resilient economy and peaceful society. 

  • POWA visits Lagos First Lady, seeks improved support for police families

    POWA visits Lagos First Lady, seeks improved support for police families

    As part of efforts to attract better welfare for personnel wives and children, the Lagos State chapter of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) has visited Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at State House Marina.

    The delegation led by POWA chairperson, Mrs. Risqat Oluwatoyin Jimoh, appreciated the Lagos First Lady for all her support to families of police operatives especially widows and children.

    Mrs. Jimoh noted the consistent and invaluable assistance the First Lady has rendered to POWA, PWA, and LAPOWA over the years, highlighting her role in alleviating the suffering of widows and disadvantaged families of police officers who died in active service. 

    She praised Dr. Sanwo-Olu’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of women, children, and other vulnerable groups in the state.

    Read Also: Oyo POWA empowers 303 families of fallen police officers with food, materials

    Mrs. Jimoh reaffirmed POWA’s mission to promote the welfare of police families through education, healthcare, empowerment and skills development. 

    She emphasised the need for continued collaboration with leaders like the First Lady to expand the reach of these initiatives, especially in areas such as food distribution, scholarship support, and vocational training for widows and children of fallen officers.

    Responding, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu assured POWA of her continued commitment to collaborating with them. 

    She emphasised the importance of collective action in supporting families of law enforcement personnel and pledged to further support impactful programmes that align with the objectives of POWA.

  • JUST IN: Police begin demolition of Lagos POWA complex 

    JUST IN: Police begin demolition of Lagos POWA complex 

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) early Sunday, December 31, began the planned demolition of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) shopping complex, situated in Ikeja area of Lagos. 

    The Nation learnt four excavators had arrived at the shopping complex by midnight with heavily armed police officers.

    Read Also: Mining to experience major leap in 2024, says Alake

    Police authorities had said the planned demolition was in good faith and for the interest of all concerned.

    The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Saturday had said it has become imperative to properly establish that the complex, a property of POWA, which was officially allocated to wives of police officers and their relatives, has been scheduled for demolition.

    According to him, the demolition is to enable the police to commence immediate construction of a modern shopping complex on the same land.

  • POWA awards scholarship to 35 indigent, orphaned students

    POWA awards scholarship to 35 indigent, orphaned students

    Thirty five university students who are children of indigent or deceased police officers have been awarded scholarships by the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) to enable them continue their education.

    The beneficiaries were presented with cheques at the weekend by the POWA President, Deaconess Elizabeth Egbetokun during an event held at the POWA hall, Oduduwa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    According to Mrs. Egbetokun, the gesture by POWA was in recognition of the importance of education in bringing about positive changes in the lives of police children.

    “We recognized education as the cornerstone of progress and a powerful tool that can transform lives. As we award scholarships to the exceptional young minds, we are not just granting support, we are investing in a brighter future for our nation.

    “To the scholarship recipients your hard work, dedication and commitment didn’t go unnoticed, you are the embodiment of perseverance. I believe you will make use of the opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully to society and the police as well.

    Read Also: Niger crisis: National interest will guide our ECOWAS operation says Tinubu

    In her welcome address, the wife of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Dr. Folayemi Owohunwa, said they believed that education and empowerment of their children would help keep them away from crimes.

    “The noble cause has challenged me to dedicate myself to a transformative programme to empower students whose parents had died in the line of duty. This initiative is aimed at providing assistance to individuals from active and deceased police officers who share inspiration of higher learning for their children through tertiary education.

    “Following screening 35 students was selected. Among them, 31 are from university, one from college of education and two from the polytechnic. These deserving candidates will receive scholarship grant of N200,000 each not only to support their education, but also pave ways for their brighter future,” said Mrs. Owohunwa.

    Appreciating the women for the kind gesture, Lagos Police Commissioner (CP) Idowu Owohunwa, said the scholarship showed that the POWA president was supportive and wanted her husband, the Inspector General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbetokun to succeed.

    He also praised his wife for raising the bar by initiating the scholarship which was first of its kind at the command, targeted at children of deceased and indigent officers.

    “It is my prayer that this very lofty initiative would be sustained. I, as the Commissioner of Police, am passionate about giving back to society and that is the reason why I have supported the chairperson to see the idea materialise and I am honored to be associated with the success.”

    A beneficiary, Precious Adam, thanked POWA for reducing her parents’ burden by giving her the scholarship, noting that it would ensure she gave her full concentration to her studies.

    Adam, a 200 level student at the Kogi State University, said with the grant, she won’t need to disturb her parents for money since she knew they didn’t have it.

  • IG’s wife Ndayako lifts POWA with skills acquisition

    IG’s wife Ndayako lifts POWA with skills acquisition

    Wife of the Inspector General of Police (IG) Princess Asmau Ndayako Idris has organised a free skill acquisition training for members of the Police Officers’ Wives Association ( POWA ) in Akure, the Ondo State capital; Alagbaka and Ilorin, Kwara State.

    The training was done in partnership with Helping Hands International (H2i).

    More than 200 serving policemen and POWA members were taken through the rudiments of make-up artistry, paint and Izal productions, bread baking, ankara dyeing/shoe/bag making, oil extraction, barbecue-making, among others. The paint produced was used to paint part of Police headquarters at Ilorin.

    Read Also: POWA shopping mall in benin razed by fire

    The occasion pulled personalities from various police formations, including wife of the Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Evangelist Christiana Adeyanju.

    The Kwara State Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ronald Okon, who represented his boss Onuoha Chika; Police Area Commander, Okey and Managing Director of Helping Hands International (H2i) Emmanuel Obitex, were also in attendance.

    H2i Concepts is an international Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) which has been helping the Federal Government to empower the police force and youths by offering them opportunity to acquire additional skills.

  • IG’s wife urges police to shun cultism among barracks’ children

    IG’s wife urges police to shun cultism among barracks’ children

    The wife of the Inspector General of Police Barr. Asina’u Nayako Ibrahim on Tuesday expressed concern on the rate of cultism and drug abuse among barracks children and charged police officers to change the mentality the society has about them .

    These children, she said must assisted to imbibe moral values and be better members of the society.

    The IG’s wife who is also the National President of Police Officers Wives Association( POWA ) made this charge on Tuesday in Ibadan during her visit to Oyo State Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele.

    In her address, Asinau encouraged police wives to join the crusade on child modesty to create a new image about police children.

    “The work load is on our women, let us have good relationships with our children, let us be open with them, and imbibe in them moral values to make us proud.

    Speaking on the roles of a virtuous woman, Asina’u added that ” A virtuous woman should be submissive to her husband, be at peace with him and create a condusive environment for her husband to meet at home “.

    Asina’u who said her visit to Oyo state was part of her program to sensitise women on general cleanliness, a way to prevent ailments, added she had earlier visited Lagos state and would be extended to osun.

    Enjoining parents to work hand in hand in training the children, She advised ” I want all of us to come together to give our children good education and make them skillful, having it in mind that they are our future”

    By so doing, the children will shun vices such as drug abuse, cultism, stealing and make something out of their time”.

    In her welcome address, the wife of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police Mrs Balikis Odude acknowledged the effort of the National President, saying it Worth emulation.

    According to her, The IGS wife through this program stopped that something that could be a disaster if it had continued that way, Her coming to Oyo State will make something meaningful”.

    In his remarks, Oyo Commissioner of Police Abiodun Odude said ” In the 37states, Oyo state has the lower level of crime so far”.

    Odude noted that the Police Officers Wives Association( POWA)
    Is very essential in the world, adding that the police is 100% successful with the association backup. “A man cannot be dutifully in his post if he is not in peace with his wife” He said.

  • …POWA to immunize over 10,000

     •FG to open cancer screening centre in Abuja soon

    Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA), yesterday, in Abuja disclosed its plan to immunize over 10,000 police families across the country.

    This was disclosed when the National President of POWA, Dr. Asmau Idris and some members of the association visited the Minister of Women Affairs, Sen. Aisha Alhassan.

    The Federal Government has disclosed that a cancer screening centre would be opened in Abuja soon to cater for medical needs of those in and around Abuja. According to POWA president: “We have more than 10,000 police families in the nation, and they need medical aid.

    “We will be immunizing over 10,000 women and children in our barracks across the nation and we are soliciting for aid from the ministry of health so that more of our women and children in the barracks can be part of the exercise and be given the vaccine as at when due.

    ” POWA also noted that it will embark on empowerment project for unemployed youths within the barracks. On the project, she said: “we are interested in development of our children between the ages of 17 and 25 who are not gainfully employed and having challenges in furthering their education. “We want to ensure that they will not become available tools for nefarious activities.”

  • Kano POWA chief lifts widows

    Emotions were high at the Kano State Police Command Officers’ Mess, wife of the Commissioner of Police,  Hajiya Salma Rabiu Yusuf, touched the lives of over 350 widows and orphans of police officers who died in service. Acting in her capacity as the Kano State chairperson of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), and in company of POWA chairpersons from other Northwest states, Hajiya Yusuf donated several bags of assorted food items and other household necessities, including 70 bags of rice, 70 cartons of Macroni, 350 cardigans for children, 150 pairs of school sandals, 57 cartons of Indomie noodles, six bags of millet and 80 pairs of slippers, worth over N8 million.

    Hajiya Yusuf said she wanted to alleviate the burden the widows and their orphans have been carrying due to the loss of the bread winners.

    She said: ‘‘POWA is donating some food items and clothing to the wives and children, whose husbands and fathers laid their lives to pay the supreme price, while on active service of the nation. We shall remain focused in our vision to take the association to a greater height    by alleviating the sufferings of our widows, because their plight is ours and we shall not rest in oars to ensure that they are happy. I will like to reiterate that the widows and orphans in our midst are part of us and they will continue to remain part of us.

    “It is therefore our responsibilities to come to their aid by making sure that they are comfortable as their plight will continue to be our priority. We are determined to build to a credible foundation for the sustenance of these goals by developing the association, where principle of accountability, transparency and honesty shall continue to be our guide. It is against this backdrop that we found it expedient to acknowledge the efforts of the national president of POWA, Hajiya Asmau K. Idris, who is the wife of the current Inspector General of Police for her immense contributions toward the upliftment of the association.”

    She added: “Plans are underway by the association to engage the widows in small-scale businesses and skills acquisition programmes  to enable them cater for their orphans.  As you can see, what we have given them now would not be enough for them in their lifetime. But we have demonstrated to them that we love and care for them. We have at least shown that we are aware of their condition. We would soon embark on a training programme on skills acquisition, as well as provide small-scale businesses to help them cater for their wards.”

    She urged them to take care of themselves and their wards in accordance with their respective religious injunctions, noting that, “God is aware of your condition and only Him can take care of you the most.  I will like to reiterate that the widows and orphans in our midst are part of us and they will continue to remain part of us. It is therefore our responsibilities to come to their aid by making sure that they are comfortable. Consequently, their plight will continue to be our priorities,” pointing out that the gesture was a tip of the iceberg in the association’s commitment to alleviate the untold hardship of the wives and children of Police officers, who died in the course of defending their nation, adding that the effort was just to express their love and care to them.

    Speaking on behalf of the Command, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of Administration, Mr. John Amadi, commended Hajiya Salma for organizing the event saying, “this is a very touching event for the nature of our policing in the country. Policing is a high risk prone profession. Any wife of a police officer can be a widow at any time and that is what we signed for. What the Police Commissioner’s wife, the Kano POWA chairperson, Hajiya Salma Rabiu Yusuf, by putting a little drop in the ocean to show concern and the welfare of our widows. I hail POWA for this noble exercise for touching the lives of the widows and the orphans, whose husbands were killed while performing their duties.

    Most of the widows, who spoke to our reporter, praised Hajiya Yusuf and the leadership of POWA for their compassionate disposition. They described the gesture as very timely and helpful.