By Olayemi Esan
The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), has empowered 500 widows of policemen that were killed as a result of Boko Haram insurgency and other vulnerable wives of less privileged policemen in Borno state.
Speaking In an interview with newsmen shortly after the empowerment exercise, which held at the Barwee Hotel, Maiduguri on Friday, the President of POWA who is also wife of the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Hajiya Hajara Usman Alkali said ” we are targeting 500 widows of policemen that were killed by insurgents in Borno state and other vulnerable women of policemen, you can see i personally distributed these items to over 200 women before you called me for the interview. We are going to give out to 500 women mostly widows”.
We have been to Lagos, Porthacourt, and today we are here in Maiduguri. Each state we go, we empowered the widows with grinding machines, Fridges, mattresses and food items. We are going also monitor the beneficiaries, after six month, we are going send a delegation from our national secretariat in Abuja and anybody that saved money from what we are giving them today will be given more empowerment, we have a microfinance bank, we will empower them”, she further stressed.
While addressing the widows and members of the POWA earlier, Hajiya Hajara Alkali said "I am here to see you and encouraged you to support our husbands, so that they will support the IGP to succeed in discharging their duties" .
"The new POWA is anchored on three pillars of education, health and welfare. I want you to be disciplined , because without discipline we cannot succeed, ”she said.
She called on the wives of the policemen to wake up from slumber and support their husbands by engaging in businesses to support their families, adding that they should use their times properly by engaging in small businesses that will help their families rather than engaged in gossiping.
Earlier in her welcome address, Barrister Zara Yakubu said ” Borno state which is the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency, the insurgency has claimed the lives of 265 policemen since 2009 which made many women and children to became widows and orphans”.
While commending the wife of the 21st indigenous IGP, she said ” you are the fist wife of the IGP ever to visit Borno to show love and concern to the police family. Indeed you have demonstrated that you are truly a caring mother”.
The president of the POWA has also presented an awards of excellence to the CSP Hadiza Musa and SP Mary Stephen for distinguishing themselves.
Speaking in an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Bola Mshelia said ” I lack words to express my gratitude to her, God has sent her to torch my life and my children. Since i lost my husband to Boko Haram in 2015 I have not benefited from any assistance. So I lack words to thank her
” This gesture will in no small measure help me to take care of my 4 children. I even lost my 27 year old daughter. Since than i have not had any happy moment as today. May Allah reward her abundantly”, she burst in tears.