The Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma has pledged his support to members of the Police Wives Association of Nigeria (POWA) and emphasized the need for Nigerians to also support them to achieve most of their programmes that are geared towards generating activities and enhancing the wellbeing of the Nigerian Police.
Governor Uzodimma made the pledge on Tuesday at the New Exco Chamber, Government House Owerri when the President of the association and wife of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Hajia Hajara Alkali Baba led a delegation of her top members on a working visit to Imo State Police Command to pay a courtesy call on the governor.
Receiving the POWA President and other officials from the National and State Commands, the Governor, accompanied by his wife, Barr. Chioma Uzodimma, commended Hajia Alkali Baba for standing by her husband to tackle the spate of insecurity in the country.
He congratulated and commended her for her efforts and that of her team to sustain the ideals of POWA.
Governor Uzodimma reminded her that the relationship between Imo State and the Nigerian Police has been cordial, noting that the Police in the watch of her husband have been working tirelessly in Imo State to protect lives and property in line with their primary responsibility.
“We need to support Nigerian Police who are passing through a lot of troubles because there is no way they can succeed without our support.”
The Governor added that Government at all levels need to encourage POWA as a way of strengthening the Police Force, insisting that “when they are supported in their various activities, especially the areas of environmental and sanitation programmes, the barracks will be clean as well as the Mess where Police officers go for relaxation.”
On the request of the President of POWA for land to build Skills Acquisition Centre in Imo State as a way of supporting wives of policemen, the Governor assured the delegation of his readiness to provide land for them “as soon as they are ready” and also promised to encourage and support them to successfully embark on the Skills Acquisition training.
Going by the importance the Imo State government attaches to education and the need to encourage our students to read and learn, Governor Uzodimma also promised to support the proposed POWA organised Police Secondary Schools Quiz Competition, assuring that whoever emerges the winner in the quiz competition will get N15million from his Shared Prosperity Administration.
In her address earlier, Hajia Alkali Baba told the Governor that they were in Imo State as part of her familiarization tour of Police formations in Nigeria, specifically to see her fellow women in the barracks and empower those that need assistance. She expressed her gratitude to the Governor and his wife for receiving them despite the short notice.
She thanked the Governor for the synergy between the Police and the State Government and noted that under her leadership POWA is expanding her social intervention programmes.
The IGP’s wife further informed the Governor that her programme as POWA President is anchored on a three-point agenda – Education, health and welfare.
She therefore passionately appealed to the Governor to assist the Body in “strengthening the Police Children’s Schools in Imo State, allocating a parcel of land for the establishment of Skills Acquisition Centre for their women and helping them in improving the health of their women and children in the barracks.”
The wife of the Governor, Barr (Mrs.) Chioma Uzodimma, the Deputy Governor, Prof. Placid Njoku and his wife, Dr. Bola Njoku, the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibe and some of his colleagues witnessed the ocassion.
Other key government functionaries in attendance included the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu and his wife, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and his wife, the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Irene Chima, Commissioners and other members of the expanded State Executive Council.
POWA President was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, Rabiu Husseni and other Executive members of POWA at the National and State levels.