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El-Ameen Ibrahim
The welfare of police families moved to the forefront of national discourse on Thursday as the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women, particularly wives of police officers, describing them as indispensable partners in sustaining the nation’s security institutions.
The renewed commitment came at the opening of the 2026 Annual General Convention of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) in Abuja, where participants called for greater investments in healthcare, mental wellness, education and economic empowerment for families of serving and retired police personnel.
Represented by the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, Mrs. Lilian Oghogho Musa, the First Lady said while police officers carry out the demanding task of protecting lives and property, their spouses shoulder enormous responsibilities at home, providing stability that enables security personnel to remain focused on their duties.
The convention, held at the Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja, was attended by wives of serving and retired police officers, senior government officials, police leadership and other stakeholders. The gathering focused on practical strategies for improving family welfare, promoting women’s economic independence and strengthening emotional resilience among police families.
With the theme, “The Resilient Woman: Navigating Life’s Challenges with Strength, Purpose and Grace,” the event highlighted the often-overlooked role of police spouses in maintaining family cohesion amid the unique demands of policing.
In her keynote address, Senator Tinubu commended the National President of POWA, Chief (Mrs.) Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, for providing a platform that promotes unity, mutual support and capacity development among police officers’ wives across the country.
She observed that the convention’s theme reflected the realities confronting many Nigerian women, who continue to balance family responsibilities with personal and economic aspirations despite numerous challenges.
According to the First Lady, the contribution of police officers’ wives deserves broader recognition because they remain a critical support system for officers whose assignments often require prolonged periods away from home.
“You provide the stability that enables our police officers to serve the nation effectively. Your patience, sacrifices, encouragement and support deserve recognition, while your health and mental well-being must also receive adequate attention,” she stated.
The First Lady stressed that promoting the welfare of police families aligns with the Federal Government’s broader agenda of strengthening institutions through investments in human capital, particularly women and families.
Earlier, the National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association, Chief Mrs. Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, described the convention as an opportunity to celebrate the resilience of women whose contributions to policing are rarely acknowledged despite their central role in sustaining their families.
She said the annual gathering was designed not only to recognise the sacrifices of police wives but also to equip them with knowledge and practical tools to improve their physical health, emotional well-being and financial independence.
“Today is more than the opening of another convention. It is the gathering of women whose stories are rarely told, whose sacrifices are often unseen, yet whose strength quietly keeps the Nigerian Police Force standing,” she said.
Mrs. Disu noted that many police wives cope with extended periods of separation, uncertainty and the day-to-day responsibility of raising families while their spouses remain engaged in demanding operational assignments.
“Every police officer wears a uniform. But behind every uniform is another uniform that no one sees. It is the invisible uniform of the wife who waits,” she added.
She disclosed that under her leadership, POWA has expanded programmes targeted at improving the welfare of police families through free medical outreach, eye care services, educational scholarships, economic empowerment initiatives and support for widows and vulnerable children.
According to her, recent engagements with residents of police barracks across the country revealed significant economic pressures facing many households, reinforcing the association’s determination to develop interventions that respond directly to their most pressing needs.
“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.
Mrs. Disu urged participants to take advantage of the convention to acquire new skills, strengthen support networks and return to their communities better equipped to confront life’s challenges.
She maintained that stronger and more resilient families ultimately contribute to a more effective police institution and a safer society.
Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, paid tribute to police wives for the critical role they play in sustaining their families while officers undertake demanding security responsibilities across the country.
He described them as dependable partners whose sacrifices often go unnoticed but remain essential to the effectiveness and morale of police personnel.
The Inspector-General commended the organisers for convening the convention, describing the initiative as timely and beneficial to both police families and the institution as a whole.
The 2026 POWA Convention concluded its opening session with renewed calls for stronger partnerships among government institutions, the police leadership and stakeholders to advance programmes that promote the welfare, resilience and economic empowerment of police families, reinforcing the view that strengthening those who support law enforcement officers at home ultimately contributes to a more effective national security system.