Rotary Club empowers 40 police officers' wives with N2 million

Rotary Club of Falomo (District 9112) has unveiled a N2 million empowerment programme to support the wives of police officers within the district that are into petty trading to cushion the effect of the economic hardship they are experiencing.

The micro-credit facility, tagged Economic and Community Development Project, is a zero-interest facility that was distributed among 40 traders who are members of the Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA).

The 40 traders were given N50,000 each to grow their small-scale businesses.President of the club, Sandra Ovie, who spoke during the unveiling of the package held at the MOPOL 2 Barracks, Keffi-Ikoyi, Lagos, said the project’s idea was to help the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and grow the country’s economy at the small-scale business level.

She said: “We started this project four years ago, and the whole intention is to help the Nigeria Police Force. We understand that the government cannot do it alone, and some of these wives are not doing anything. So, it is another way of making them support their families and make them do small businesses. That way, we can support them with a minimum of N50,000 each at zero-interest rate.

“We have been doing it for four years now. We started it with 10 people, moved from 20 to 30, and this year, we’re doing 40 people.

“Next year, it will be increased. We already have somebody donating to sponsor 10 women; so, we’re hoping that we get to that point where we can touch more lives.”

In her remarks, Chairperson of the Police Officers Wives’ Association (POWA), Lagos State Command, Abiola Ishiola, lauded the project as a great initiative and promised to ensure that the loan is well used to achieve its goal.

Head of Marketing at NPF Microfinance Bank Plc, Fatimo Olajumoke, emphasised that the partnership with Rotary Club of Falomo is a win-win situation for all parties.

Also, the Service Project Director of Rotary Club of Falomo, Joshua Akpan, said they were happy to positively impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians, especially during this challenging economic period.