Aishatu Muhammed Gumel is the wife of the Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command. She is the Chairperson of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) in Sokoto. In this exclusive interview, she speaks on POWA and her dreams for a well-positioned association in the state. Excerpts:
How did you meet POWA when you assumed office as the new chairperson in June 2022?
Normally, there is no vacuum in POWA with the disengagement of any former POWA chairperson. Before I assumed office as the chairperson, the Secretary of the association was fully in charge and all members of the chapter were loyal to her leadership. On assumption, the Secretary led the executive members on a courtesy visit and we all familiarized ourselves. After that, there was a full handing over. I met POWA as functional as ever. So, there was no vacuum like I said.
How have you reshaped POWA. What are your achievements so far?
On assumption of duty, I formally met with the POWA officials and designed a roadmap that will reposition the association to greater heights. First, we embarked on courtesy visits to our husbands, the Police Officers in the Command. We also visited the Sokoto State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, and our mother, the wife of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto for her royal blessings. In all these places we received words of encouragement. While our husbands promised to give us all the necessary support, the Commissioner gave POWA 50 slots for various skills acquisition for our members. The Sultan’s wife donated bags of rice which we shared among our less-privileged members. Also, the Office of the Secretary to Sokoto State Government donated some relief materials including millet, beans, rice, sorghum, mats, cooking oil, Maggi, salt, soap, and clothes. We shared these with our members. These are some of the ways we keep empowering our members. You can see that within the short time, I assumed office here, we have achieved so much. We are continuing with this drive for the betterment of our members, especially the less privileged among us.
What would describe as your major challenges?
In all societies, women always have a large number than men. Taking care of these, therefore, requires funds. Therefore, the paucity of funds to adequately run these programmes, especially participating in activities designed by the national POWA outside the state is a challenge. Another challenge faced by some of our members who cannot afford air transportation, like other citizens, is the risk of travels by road.
How will you want to see POWA and what is your agenda towards achieving that?
I will want to see POWA in this state able to support all less-privileged members as well as their children, especially in the areas of skills acquisition, education, and health. Skills acquisition for our members is important because it will help in supporting our husbands to be able to put their optimum best in crime prevention. Skills acquisition will make wives of Policemen be self-reliant and not over-stretch their husbands with demands that could make them not concentrate more on their duty of maintaining law and order. I want to see a further strengthened relationship between POWA and the State Ministry for Women and Children Affairs as well as other well-meaning individuals and organisations.
Barracks boys/girls are described as bad children. As a mother, what specific program(s) do you have towards having “good boys/girls” in the barracks?
When I assumed office, we have undertaken constant visits to the Police Barracks to advise the parents to take good care of their children, especially with regard to behavioural training. And, when the problem of bad habits persists, the Provost of the Command takes charge. Not that alone, to promote a healthy environment and guard against outbreaks of diseases, we visit to encourage environmental cleanliness in the Barracks.
Finally, any message for police officers’ wives in the command
My call for all members of POWA is to be active in the activities of the association.
