The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has pledged to support the Police Officers’ Wives Association of Nigeria POWA in the empowerment of its members through the Social Safety Nets.
The Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq
made the pledge when the management and executive members of POWA led by its national President Hajiya Hajara Usman Alkali Baba paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja on Thursday.
In a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, Umar Farouq urged the members to key into the National Home Grown School Feeding for pupils in public primary schools (primary 1-3 ) and also apply for interest free loans for vulnerable women in their communities through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme GEEP.
She said “An Association like POWA is very critical to the society especially when it comes to improving the lives of women and children. I believe that there are many areas that we can collaborate. As you are aware, the mandate of the ministry is to provide interventions to the poor and vulnerable in the country and those affected by disasters.
“One of these intervention programmes that is significant to the partnership we are going to have with your association is the National Social Investment Programme where we have four flagship empowerment programmes. We will look at how we can incorporate the Police Children’s school into the school Feeding programme. That is already in the pipeline. We also provide soft loans for market women through the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme GEEP. The women in the Mammy market and barracks can also benefit from these interest free loans in other to boost their capital.
“The N-Power programme for graduate and non-graduate will also be of immense value to the youths in the barracks as this will also help them to acquire life skills.
Most of all, we will like to partner with POWA in the Alternate School Programme to ensure that all children are empowered with basic education wherever they are”.
Earlier, the POWA President
commended the Minister for her effective management of massive humanitarian challenges faced by the nation due to banditry, militancy and terrorism.
Hajiya Hajara also sought the provision of covid 19 palliatives and soft loans for vulnerable women in the barracks to cushion the effect of the pandemic.
She promised that the palliatives if given to them, will be deployed judiciously to support families of officers who are at the fore front of safeguarding the nation adding that the gesture will strengthen the bond of friendship between POWA and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs in building Nigeria.
Wives of the Deputy Inspectors- General of Police, wives of the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and wives of Commissioners of Police accompanied Hajiya Alkali on the courtesy visit.
