Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi
The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, has commended the Wife of the Inspector General of Police and President of Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, for empowering women in the state in the area of agriculture, saying that the gesture will go a long way in improving food security in the state.
This is as governor wants Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to review its operational guidelines in a manner that would encourage active participation of women especially from northern parts of the country
The governor was speaking yesterday when he received a delegation of POWA at the Government House, Bauchi.
The wife of the IG was on a one-day working visit to the state to launch the Women in Agriculture programme of POWA
Governor Mohammed, who expressed delight with the initiative of wife of the IG, stated that the initiative will bring about a significant increase in agricultural productivity, improve food security, foster economic growth, reduce poverty and idleness, thereby serving as a means of employment and livelihood for the people.
According to him, knowing the importance of agriculture as the primary source of employment for the people, upon assumption of office, his administration swiftly formulated a comprehensive agricultural development plan which leverages the Bauchi land assets to unlock the state’s industrial potentials.
“We in Bauchi really appreciate the Nigeria police force headed by your husband. He stands for energy, penetration innovation and invention of the Nigeria Police. My first contact with him in the cabinet, where he briefed us on what he is doing in the Nigeria Police. He is leveraging on little resources to do so much and you can see the peace that is in the nation, no wonder behind every successful person is a very good woman and we are happy that our sister is behind him.”
“Our sister wants to empower women in agriculture under a programme known as women in agriculture. She is going to train women, one in each LGA in the area of crop production in America, using small water to grow vegetables and the rest of our agricultural needs. We are really excited this is the innovation I was earlier talking about, not just in the area of agricultural inputs, but in the output which is huge.”
“We don’t take second place in Nigeria, we always come first, so this programme you are giving us, we assure you that we are going to do better than others because we believe in making sure that we open new frontiers, initiatives and this is commendable,” he said.
Speaking earlier, the wife of the IG, Mrs Elizabeth
Egbetokun, said that Bauchi as the pearl of tourism holds a special place in her heart, not only because it is her place of origin, but because of the warm hospitality of the people.
Mrs. Egbetokun said she was in the state to intimate the governor on the newly introduced initiative of Young Women in Agriculture under the police Agricultural empowerment programme.
She therefore, urged women from the state to avail themselves with the opportunity to improve the economic status.
According to her, Bauchi state has experienced developmental strides under the leadership of Governor Mohammed ranging from infrastructure, education, healthcare amongst others, adding that the governor’s unwavering commitment to the people of the state is commendable.
Mrs. Egbetokun expressed gratitude for the reception she received and announced that Women in Agriculture will train and sponsor one woman from each of the 20 local government areas to the US, calling for ongoing assistance to ensure the programme’s success.
Meanwhile, Bauchi governor wants Nigerian Police Force to review it operational guidelines in a manner that would encourage active participation of women especially from northern parts of the country.
He made the plea while fielding questions from journalists shortly after granting audience to Mrs Egbetokun.
Governor Mohammed, who acknowledged the role of women police in ensuring peaceful co-existence, maintained that the system is not encouraging participation of women from the north in view of the socio-cultural and religious differences.
He also applauded Mrs. Egbetokun for introducing laudable initiatives aimed at empowering women in different areas.
