The Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) has launched the Lagos phase of its CARES Initiative, extending healthcare, financial, and educational support to more than 1,000 police families in a renewed push to strengthen welfare within the Nigeria Police Force.
Speaking at the launch, POWA President, Mrs. Olufunmilola Disu, said the programme is designed to provide holistic support for officers’ families, whom she described as a critical but often overlooked pillar of national security.
According to her, beneficiaries will receive free eye screenings, medical consultations, dental care, and treatment, alongside financial grants for 200 families, nursing scholarships, and mobility support through the distribution of Cowry transport cards.
She noted that the Lagos rollout builds on an earlier phase held in Abuja, where over 1,000 beneficiaries accessed medical services, an outcome she said helped shape the expansion of the initiative nationwide.
“This is more than an event; it is a vision anchored on the belief that the strength of any police force lies in the well-being of its families,” she said.
Disu stressed that improved family welfare directly impacts operational effectiveness, adding that officers are better positioned to serve when their home front is stable and supported.
Beyond direct interventions, the initiative also features youth-focused sensitisation programmes addressing drug abuse, cultism, and reproductive health, aimed at promoting responsible behaviour and safeguarding the future of police families.
She further disclosed that selected beneficiaries would participate in interactive sessions with top government and police leadership, including the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The POWA President described the CARES Initiative as a shift from sporadic welfare interventions to a more structured and scalable framework driven by partnerships with government institutions, healthcare providers, and social organisations.
She commended the Lagos State Government and participating medical professionals for their support in delivering the programme, urging beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunities provided.
Disu expressed confidence that sustained investment in police families would not only improve welfare outcomes but also enhance policing efficiency and contribute to broader national development.
