- Police Primary schools in Lagos get facility upgrade
The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) in Lagos made good its vision to enhance the livelihood of the families of active and deceased officers when it gave a scholarship grant of N200,000 each to 35 children on Friday 25th August, 2023.
The officers’ children have obtained admissions to various higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. This educational gesture was presented by the 22nd President of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Deaconess Elizabeth Egbetokun. She was accompanied by Mrs. Aisha Ciroma, wife of DIG Ciroma; Mrs. Zainab Ari Ali, wife of AIG Zone 2, wives of CPs and others.
National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report that the Chairperson of POWA in Lagos, Dr. Folayemi Owohunwa also presented N300,000 to the management of police primary schools in Epe, Ikeja, Okota, Idimu, Obalende 1, Obalende 2. This will engender improvement of facilities in the schools. She had earlier paid an on-the-spot visit to the schools across Lagos.
Present at the event yesterday were the wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs. Omotosho; the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, CP Idowu Owohunwa; Oba Babatunde Saliu, the Oloworo of Oworo; Chief Bashir Afolami representing the Oniru of Iru, Oba Omogbolahan Lawal, the CEO of Beloxxi industry, members of the Lagos Police management team and many other dignitaries.
The President of Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), Deaconess Elizabeth Egbetokun giving her address at the maiden official visit to Lagos said: ‘Today we have come together not only as a community but as a force for positive change. We recognize that education is the cornerstone of progress and a powerful tool that can transform lives. As we award scholarship to this young minds, we re not only giving grants but empowering the future. Each scholarship is a testament to your potential and I am confident that you will make most of this invaluable opportunity. Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa (m) and other senior officers of the Lagos State Police Command.
The wife of the Governor of Lagos, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu who was represented by Mrs. Omotosho stated that the Lagos State Government places high premium on education, ‘we want to ensure that education is beyond mere certification. That is why in the Office of the First Lady, we have initiated programmes to empower vulnerable women, youths, and children to pick relevant skills.’
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of Police Officers Wives Association, Lagos State Command, Dr. Folayemi Owohunwa hinted: ‘We have not only come to express our heartfelt appreciation but also to embark on a journey of empowerment. One of the most remarkable things that I admire about our President, Deaconess Elizabeth Egbetokun is her commitment to value addition to police officers’ families. Among these is the concept of education empowerment which is of innumerable value.’
Elucidating the importance of the scholarship, Mrs. Owohunwa continued: ‘This scholarship aims to provide assistance to the families of active and deceased officers who share their aspirations of higher quality of life through attainment to higher institutions. 35 will get a scholarship grant of N200,000.
She advised the beneficiaries, ‘you represent not only yourself but the dreams and aspirations of your family. Use this platform to become an ambassador of change and progress for your family and the country as a whole.’
Mrs. Owohunwa then presented N300,000 to facilitate the upgrade of school facilities in the Police primary schools in Epe, Ikeja, Okota, Idimu, Obalende 1, and Obalende 2.
Expressing his gratitude to the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), the no. 1 police officer in Lagos, CP Idowu Owohunwa said: ‘events of this nature shows that whether in service or out of service or if you pay the supreme sacrifice, we have the leadership between the rank of our wives – from the rank of the IGP to the chairpersons in the States – we can wipe tears off the faces of our families. On behalf of the Police family particularly in Lagos command, I say a big thank you.’
‘We say this is the beginning and we pray that successive POWA administrations will sustain this novel idea. It is by pulling from poverty that wealth is made and to sustain this effort, on behalf of officers in Lagos, we will make a donations of N6 million to support this scholarship scheme’, NAOSNP gathered.
‘For our children who are beneficiaries, what you owe us and your family is hard work. Avoid the temptation to join bad gang’, CP Idowu Owohunwa concluded.
Udeghene Samuel, one of the beneficiaries of the grant thanks the IGP’s wife and Mrs. Owohunwa for the initiatives, because it would go a long way in assisting the student and their parents in no small measure.
“I am extremely happy to be chosen, It is a wonderful opportunity for me in this present day Nigeria economy, it would go a long way in helping me in my study, Presently I am in a hundred level at Benue State University, and the grant will help me.”
