……Mutiat Disu unveils healthcare, economic empowerment, mental wellness and education initiatives, says the association will continue to listen to the needs of police families while expanding support for widows, children and vulnerable households.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to improving the welfare of police personnel and their families, describing the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) as a vital pillar of support that has continued to strengthen the Force through humanitarian service, family support and community engagement.
The IGP gave the assurance on Thursday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) National Convention held at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Disu commended members of the association for their unwavering sacrifices and contributions to the wellbeing of police families, noting that behind every successful police officer is a family that provides strength, encouragement and stability.
He said policing remains one of the most demanding professions, requiring officers to spend long hours away from home, work under dangerous conditions and make difficult decisions in the interest of national security.
According to him, the support provided by wives of police officers has continued to enable officers discharge their constitutional responsibilities with dedication and professionalism.
“It gives me immense pleasure to join you this morning at the Annual Meeting of the Police Officers’ Wives Association. I am particularly delighted to witness this gathering of accomplished, compassionate and dedicated women who have continued, over the years, to provide an invaluable support system for the Nigeria Police Force and the larger Police family,” he said.
The IGP congratulated the National President of POWA, Mrs. Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, on her assumption of office, expressing confidence that the association would continue to build on its legacy of service while introducing programmes that would further improve the welfare of police families across the country.
He described POWA as more than an association of spouses, saying it has evolved into a formidable platform for humanitarian interventions, support for widows, children of deceased officers, vulnerable families and members of the police community.
Disu noted that the association’s activities complement the welfare programmes of the Nigeria Police Force and deserve national recognition.
He further reminded members that beyond supporting their husbands, they also serve as ambassadors of the Nigeria Police Force whose conduct contributes significantly to public perception of the institution.
The IGP therefore urged members to continue upholding the values of integrity, discipline, humility and compassion while projecting the association with dignity in their various communities.
He assured them that the Force would continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening family welfare, education, healthcare, skills acquisition, women’s empowerment and social development.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains firmly committed to improving the welfare of its personnel and their families. We recognise that the effectiveness of any police organisation depends not only on operational capabilities but also on the strength and wellbeing of the families that stand behind its officers,” he stated.
Disu encouraged participants to use the convention to strengthen unity among members, sustain the association’s spirit of volunteerism and continue developing innovative ideas that would improve the lives of police families.
Earlier in her address, the National President of POWA, Chief Mrs. Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, described the convention as a gathering dedicated to recognising the silent sacrifices made daily by wives of police officers across the country.
She said while police officers wear visible uniforms in the line of duty, their wives carry what she described as “an invisible uniform” characterised by patience, resilience and unwavering support despite the uncertainties associated with policing.
According to her, many wives celebrate important family occasions without their husbands because of operational responsibilities, raise children almost single-handedly and constantly live with anxiety over the safety of their spouses.
“This year’s convention is about every police officer’s wife. It is about reminding every police officer’s wife that while society may not always see her sacrifices, POWA does,” she said.
Speaking on the theme of the convention, “The Resilient Woman: Navigating Life’s Challenges with Strength, Purpose and Grace,” Mrs. Disu explained that resilience should not translate into suffering in silence.
She said the three-day convention was carefully designed to invest in the health, emotional wellbeing, economic empowerment and personal development of members.
According to her, since assuming office, the association has adopted a people-centred approach by listening directly to the needs of police families before implementing intervention programmes.
She disclosed that POWA had reached over 1,000 police families in Abuja through healthcare interventions, including free medical consultations, eye screening and distribution of corrective eyeglasses.
She added that the association later expanded similar interventions to Lagos through the POWA CARES Initiative, combining healthcare services with economic empowerment, scholarships and direct support for police families.
Mrs. Disu also revealed that recent visits by the association to markets within police barracks in Abuja exposed the economic realities confronting many wives of police officers.
According to her, members encountered women operating businesses with little capital and widows who desired opportunities for self-reliance rather than sympathy.
She said those engagements reinforced the association’s determination to design programmes that respond to the actual needs of police families.
“Our work must move beyond assumptions. Healthcare, education, mental wellness, economic empowerment and support for widows and children are not just programmes; they are promises. Promises that no police family should feel forgotten,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police for his continued support for POWA’s welfare initiatives and also thanked the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her commitment to women, families and vulnerable groups through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
Representing the First Lady at the event, Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa commended the leadership of POWA for organising a convention focused on strengthening women and promoting family wellbeing.
She said the convention’s theme reflects the daily experiences of Nigerian women, particularly wives of police officers who shoulder enormous responsibilities at home while supporting husbands whose duties often keep them away from their families.
Mrs. Musa stressed that although police officers’ wives provide the emotional stability that enables officers to serve the nation, equal attention should also be paid to their health and mental wellbeing.
She encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity provided by the convention by learning new skills, building stronger networks and returning home with renewed determination to support their families and communities.
She further urged women to continue empowering one another, noting that the benefits of empowering women extend beyond individual households to the wider society.
Mrs. Musa congratulated the National President and executive members of POWA for successfully organising the convention before formally declaring the 2026 Police Officers’ Wives Association Annual General Convention open.
The convention brought together wives of serving and retired police officers, senior police officers, government officials and development partners to deliberate on strategies for strengthening family support systems, women’s empowerment and the welfare of police families across Nigeria.
