The Police Officers Wives Association has empowered over 200 vulnerable women and widows of fallen police officers in Bauchi State with various items to make them self-reliant.

Dr. Elizabeth Egbetokun who is POWA National President and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, presented the items to the beneficiaries during a two-day working visit to Bauchi on Tuesday.

The items presented to the widows included chest freezers, sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dryers and bags of rice, among others.

She said, “As we gathered for the empowerment today, to recognise the sacrifice made by police families, we must emphasise that the role families played in the life of officers is immeasurable. We are here to give widows of officers who paid the supreme price a sense of belonging and hope, so that they will not feel that because their husbands are no more, they have been neglected.

“This empowerment is to encourage them to be independent, so we are appealing to them not to sell the items given to them. The welfare, health, and education of these officers’ wives are our topmost agenda. We have over 200 widows benefitting from this empowerment and we are begging them to make good use of these items, so that they can take care of their families, even in the absence of their husbands.’’

Mrs Egbetokun said that the empowerment was not just a word but commitments to provide necessary tools to enable them thrive amid challenges.

She emphasised that the welfare of police officers’ wives was paramount to the association, especially in the face of the current economic situation.

In her remarks, the state Chairperson of POWA and wife of the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command, Binta Auwal, said the programme was designed by POWA president to inspire and encourage members of the association to actively participate in entrepreneurship.

She said that the POWA president believed that fostering inspiration and promoting inclusion was essential for the empowerment of women in the community.

Mrs Auwal expressed commitment toward fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship among POWA members and ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to thrive in various business pursuits.

(NAN)