The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Monday flagged off the maiden Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Program for spouses of junior police officers, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in the welfare, stability and economic empowerment of police families.
The program, organised by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) in collaboration with the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), was launched on Monday at the MD Abubakar Police Barracks, Dei-Dei, Abuja.
The event, themed “Empowering Families, Strengthening Communities: Advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda Through Skills Acquisition and Economic Empowerment,” was hosted by the Executive Secretary of the NPTF, Mohammed Sheidu.
Among dignitaries at the event were the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, represented by Mrs. Bola Aderele; the National President of POWA, Chief Mrs. Olufunmilola Mutiat Disu; and spouses of junior police officers selected from commands across the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, IGP Disu said the initiative underscores the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to improving the welfare of officers by empowering their families economically.
He noted that the wellbeing of police personnel is closely linked to the welfare of their households, stressing that a motivated and financially stable family contributes significantly to the effectiveness and morale of officers.
The IGP commended the wives of junior officers for their resilience and unwavering support, urging beneficiaries to utilize the vocational training and start-up resources provided as a platform for long-term financial independence rather than temporary assistance.
In his keynote address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Mohammed Sheidu, said the program reflects the Fund’s commitment to complementing investments in police training and infrastructure with initiatives that improve the economic well-being of police families.
He explained that the vocational skills and business start-up packs distributed to beneficiaries were designed to create sustainable livelihoods and reduce financial hardship among police households.
Sheidu attributed the initiative to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, encouraging beneficiaries to establish successful businesses capable of transforming their families and contributing to community development.
Also speaking, the National President of POWA, Chief Mrs. Olufunmilola Mutiat Disu, described the program as a strategic investment in the morale, professionalism, and overall effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force.
She said strengthening the economic capacity of police families would ultimately enhance national security, noting that stable homes produce more focused and productive officers.
Mrs. Disu reaffirmed POWA’s commitment to sustaining its partnership with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund and appealed to other government institutions and private sector organizations to support similar empowerment initiatives.
The Nigeria Police Force reiterated its commitment to improving the welfare of its personnel and their families through strategic partnerships with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, POWA and other stakeholders aimed at building stronger police families and a more effective policing system nationwide.
