By Francis Ajuonuma
Worried about the economic hardship some Nigerians are experiencing, the Rotary Club Falomo (District 9112) has unveiled a N2m empowerment programme to support the wives of police officers within the district who are into petty trading.
The N2m micro-credit facility tagged Economic and Community Development Project, is a zero-interest facility distributed among 40 traders who are members of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA).
The 40 traders were given N50,000 to grow their small-scale businesses.
NPF Microfinance Bank will disburse the loan to the 40 beneficiaries. To ensure the success of the project, which is in its fourth edition, they are partnering with Rotary Club Falomo.
Speaking at the unveiling of this year’s package held at the MOPOL 2 Barrack, Keffi-Ikoyi, Lagos, President of Rotary Club Falomo Sandra Ovie said the project’s idea is to help the Nigeria Police Force 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, small businesses. That way, we can support them with a minimum of N50,000 each at a 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’ll 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 of the Nigeria Police Force; that’s basically what we’re doing.”
In her remarks, Mrs Abiola Ishiola, Chairperson of the Police Officer Wives Association (POWA), Lagos State Command, lauded the project as a great initiative and promised to ensure that the loan is well used to achieve its goal.
“The loan is short, and it will be returned, and I am sure they will not be disappointed. We appreciate the great gesture. However, my advice to recipients is that they should know that this is a loan made specifically for their business, not for personal gains, not for frivolities, but specifically for their business to make a profit with it, and the loan should be returned at the appropriate time,” she said.
The Head of Marketing at NPF Microfinance Bank Plc, Fatimo Olajumoke, emphasised that the partnership with Rotary Club Falomo is a win-win situation for all parties.
“What we do at NPF Microfinance Bank is to empower women, police, police officers’ wives, and the entire public. Because it is a microfinance bank, we ensure that businesses do not lack the bank facility they need,” she said.
Service Project Director of Rotary Club Falomo Joshua Akpan says they are happy to positively impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians, especially during this difficult economic period.
L-R: Service Project Director, Rotary Club of Falomo, Lagos State, Joshua Akpan; President, Rotary Club of Falomo, Sandra Ovie; Wife of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mrs Abiola Ishola; Divisional Police Officer, Bar Beach Police Station, Mrs Grace Eburuaja; and Vice President of Rotary Club of Falomo, Paul Ofienbor, during the unveiling of an empowerment programme for Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), in Ikoyi…over the weekend
