POWA president urges women to embrace resilience, empowermentBy Chinedu AnolueThe National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Mrs Mutiat Disu, has urged women, particularly wives of police officers, to remain resilient in the face of life’s challenges through strength, purpose and grace.Disu made the advice on Thursday in Abuja, in her remarks at the opening of the inaugural annual POWA Convention.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the three-day event is “The Resilient Woman: Navigating Life’s Challenges with Strength, Purpose and Grace”The POWA president said that the convention was organised to celebrate women who silently stood beside their husbands in service to the nation in spite of the challenges associated with policing.According to her, this gathering recognises the untold stories, unseen sacrifices, and quiet strength of wives whose support enables police officers to discharge their responsibilities effectively.“This is the gathering of women whose stories are rarely told, whose sacrifices are often unseen, yet whose strength quietly keeps the Nigerian Police Force standing.“Every police officer wears a uniform, but behind every uniform is another that no one sees the invisible uniform of the wife who waits.”Disu also said that the convention highlighted the resilience of women and the daily sacrifices made by wives of police officers in supporting their families while their spouses carried out demanding assignments.She described the convention’s theme as a reflection of the realities faced by women, particularly police officers’ wives, who continue to shoulder emotional and family responsibilities with courage.She said that the association would focus on investment, physical, and mental health, as well as economic empowerment during the three-day convention.According to her, this is with a view to equipping members with practical tools for personal and family development.She added that the focus aligned with the achievements recorded under the “POWA CARES” initiative and the recent outreach to police barracks across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where food items, medical support and cash grants were distributed to struggling families.“More than 1,000 police families in Abuja benefited from free medical consultations, eye screening, and corrective eyeglasses, while similar interventions in Lagos combined healthcare with scholarships, economic empowerment and direct family support.“As we begin this convention, I ask every woman here to make one promise to herself; leave stronger than you came.“Leave knowing that your story matters, your sacrifices are recognised, and your future is filled with hope.“Because when a police officer’s wife rises, a family rises. When families rise, our police force grows stronger, and when the police force is stronger, Nigeria is safer,” she said.She also encouraged women to continue supporting one another, noting that a united family remained essential to a stronger and more effective Nigeria Police Force.In his remarks, the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, who was present at the event, commended the POWA’s president and paid tribute to her dedication to police families.The IGP said being the wife of a police officer demanded intelligence, emotional strength, and resilience, given the demands and uncertainties associated with policing.Recounting an incident during the #EndSARS” protests, he said he and his family had to evacuate their home in the middle of the night for security reasons.According to him, he instructed his wife to take only the most important belongings while leaving with the children, and later discovered that she had taken only essential certificates and official documents.“That is the wife of a police officer, trained to listen and understand messages communicated through unspoken language,” he saidDisu noted that POWA had evolved from an association of spouses into a formidable platform for humanitarian service, family support, and community development.He commended the association’s interventions for widows, children of deceased officers, vulnerable families, and members of the police community, describing them as complementary to the welfare initiatives of the Nigeria Police Force.He reaffirmed the force’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote family welfare, education, healthcare, skills acquisition, women’s empowerment, and social development.He urged members to continue strengthening unity within the association and sustaining the spirit of volunteerism and service that had distinguished POWA over the years.“Your collective efforts will undoubtedly continue to inspire hope, strengthen police families, and positively impact our communities.“On behalf of the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, I express my profound appreciation to every member of this association for your invaluable contributions,” he said.Also speaking, the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, congratulated the POWA president for organising a convention that promoted unity and mutual support among wives of police officers.Tinubu represented by the wife of the Minister of Defence, Mrs Oghogho Musa, said that the theme of the convention reflected the realities of Nigerian women who continue to overcome life’s challenges while supporting their families and communities.“As wives of police officers, you carry many responsibilities at home while supporting your husbands, whose duty often keeps them away from their families.“Your patience, sacrifice, encouragement, and support provide the stability that allows them to serve our nation,” she said.She urged participants to maximise the opportunities offered by the convention by learning from one another, building lasting relationships, and acquiring new skills that would benefit their families and communities.According to her, empowering women produces benefits that extend beyond the home and contribute to national development.NAN reports that the event also featured a special presentation and appreciation by pupils of the POWA International School, who paid tribute to the association’s president for her commitment to the welfare of police families and children.(NAN)
