The President of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Hajiya Hajara Baba Usman has empowered 500 widows of policemen in Borno State. According to her, the distribution of empowerment materials and tools, are to restore the livelihoods of the widows. While distributing grinding machines and other materials Friday in Maiduguri, she disclosed: “Indiscipline is unacceptable to me and it is applicable to any woman sitting here for the distribution exercise in the state. “If you’re not disciplined it’s better you are not here at all,” she warned, adding that POWA would like to work with a person who is fully disciplined.
She said that this is the motto of the association to get the best out of women and restore their means of livelihoods. “I want my women to grow with empowerment, because the ones in the barracks are already demoralized,” she noted. She said each and every woman including the police officers’ wives need to be encouraged by themselves. On widows’ restoration of livelihoods, she said: “If you’re engaged in hand-work; you’ve to excel in it. If also you can do carpentry don’t look at yourself; because you’re a woman.
“If you can drive or ride a tricycle, please do it,” stating that we are in a global world. She added that we still have in mind that women should not learn to become commercial drivers or try-cyclists. According to her, women should not wait for their husbands’ salaries to meet families’ basic needs of life. “You should wake up from your slumbers,” she said; adding that women should open their eyes by engaging in productive activities that could earn more income to the households. She noted that most of the quarrels between husbands and their wives are over unemployment and lack of food in the house.
“Use your hands to make something reasonable, instead of sitting down to gossip,” she said, stating that; “You can gossip me today, until next week if I’m alive; I won’t even know you’re talking.” Time, according to her, is no more on our side; as the women have children and other family members to take care of by bringing back the past glories that unite the people. Continuing, she added: “We’re here to tell the whole world that the live of police matters too,” adding noting that the 12-year Boko Haram insurgency has killed 265 policemen in the country. She said that anything unusual done by the people in society, it’s the police that provides immediate support. “When your house is burnt down; it’s the police family will be called for assistance,” she said, noting that this is why discipline is imposed among members of POWA.
