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By Christopher Oji
The Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) has given 35 students of serving and deceased children of police officers scholarships/grants to further their education.
The grant was presented to the beneficiaries by the President of POWA and wife of the Inspector General of Police, Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, on behalf of POWA, last Friday, in Lagos.
Egbetokun said as POWA, they came together not only as a community, but as an agent of positive change in the lives of police children.
“We recognised education as the cornerstone of progress and a powerful tool that can transform lives. As we award scholarships to the exceptional young minds, we are not just granting support, we are investing in the brighter future of our nation.
“To the scholarship recipients, your hard work, dedication and commitment didn’t go unnoticed; you are the embodiment of perseverance. I believe you will make use of the opportunity to excel and contribute meaningfully to society and the police as well. We are not just granting financial support, we are investing in a brighter future for our children and the nation.
“The scholarship is to empower our children to be agents of positive change. We are committed to nurturing the potential of our children in their various schools of learning and support their aspiration.”
Earlier in her welcome address, wife of Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Folayemi Owohunwa, said they all gathered to advance the education of the deceased police officers children.
She said the empowerment was not just intervention, but “confirmation and enduring commitment we hold for the children and family of police at the Lagos State Command. Beyond alleviating financial pressure, it will equip the beneficiary with knowledge, a tool to create a meaningful future.
“The noble course has challenged me to dedicate myself to a transformative programme to empower students whose parents died in the line of their duty. This initiative is aimed at providing assistance to individuals from active and deceased police officers, who share inspiration of higher learning for their children through education within the tertiary institutions.
“Following screening, 35 people were selected, and among them 32 are from university, one from college of education and two from the polytechnic. These deserving candidates will receive a scholarship/grant of N200,000 not only to support their education, but, also, paving ways for their brighter future.”
However, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, appreciated the IGP’s wife for supporting her husband in the discharge of his duty as the Inspector General of Police.
“Our IGP, your husband, is not just policing the Nigeria Police Force, but he is heading the largest police force in Africa, and not just heading the office, he is heading the police force with the widest in Africa. Its jurisdiction covers over 200 million people. That is the burden your husband is carrying, and that is why you are supporting him to succeed as the IGP.
“I want to specifically applaud the Lagos State Command POWA chairperson, my able wife, Mrs. Owohunwa, who has raised the bar by initiating scholarship, and the first of its kind at the command, to benefit the children of serving and deceased officers; it’s an investment in the future of our children and an enduring legacy.”
One of the beneficiaries of the grant, Udeghene Samuel, thanked Mr Egbetokun and Mrs. Owohunwa for the initiative, which he said would go a long way in assisting the students 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 100 Level at the Benue State University. The grant will help me.”
