The Federal Government has moved to deepen collaboration with the Fire Officers’ Wives Association (FOWA), as the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, declared that organised women remain a powerful force for empowerment, family strengthening and national development.
The Minister made the declaration when the 5th National President of FOWA, Mrs. Olufunke Mary Olumode (JP), and members of the Association paid her a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Hajiya Imaan, who expressed delight at receiving the FOWA delegation, said the Ministry was committed to building a stronger and more coordinated women’s movement by working with organised groups across the country.
“I’m so excited. When I see women in block, it excites me, because that’s what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to strengthen the women’s movement,” she said.
She announced that FOWA would be co-opted into the Ministry’s structures to enable both organisations to collaborate more effectively on women empowerment, humanitarian interventions, family development and other programmes.
“It’s automatic that we’re going to be working with your group. We’re going to co-opt FOWA as one of our structures. We’ll recognise them. We’ll also work alongside with them,” the Minister stated.
According to her, the Ministry’s empowerment strategy is designed to reach organised women at the grassroots, regardless of their affiliation, stressing that every credible women’s group has a role to play in building stronger communities.
“Wherever I go, we say, which organisations are here? Are there 20, 30 organisations? Everybody come, we empower them,” she said.
The Minister described Nigerian women as “a bankable block,” saying their resilience, reliability and capacity to contribute to national development could not be underestimated.
“It truly says that Nigerian women will save the day. Nigerian women have never disappointed. They’re a bankable block. They’re reliable. They’re dependable. They’re kind. They’re smart. And we are ready,” she declared.
She also stressed the need to strengthen women within FOWA itself, noting that the partnership should go beyond using the Association as a platform for reaching beneficiaries.
“We look forward to supporting you so that we can be able to do a lot together. We look forward to also not just supporting you to empower others, but also empowering women within the FOWA, which is very, very critical,” she said.
Hajiya Imaan linked the Ministry’s women empowerment agenda to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s family-centred development strategy, insisting that the family must remain at the heart of national policies.
“Every organ of government must work for the family. Education must work for the family, health care must work for the family, the creative sector must work for the family, digital economy must work for the family. The social agenda must have the family at heart because that’s where it starts,” she stated.
The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry’s budget had increased significantly under the present administration, from about ₦3.5 billion when she assumed office to nearly ₦150 billion, expressing optimism that increased funding would translate into greater impact for Nigerian women and families.
She urged FOWA to strengthen its publicity and documentation of interventions, encouraging the Association to produce documentaries and work directly with beneficiaries to showcase the impact of government programmes.
“Please, the work you do, publicise it, do documentaries, work with the beneficiaries. They should give the accolade to Mr. President. They should celebrate our mother, the First Lady. That’s the kind of engagement we need from the FOWA,” she said.
The Minister also commended the Federal Government for increased investment and attention to the Federal Fire Service, describing the ongoing reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda as comprehensive.
“Mr. President’s reform is all-encompassing. He hasn’t left any sector out despite scarce resources,” she said.
Earlier, the National President of FOWA, Mrs. Olufunke Mary Olumode (JP), commended the Minister for her warm reception, humility and commitment to women, children and vulnerable Nigerians.
She described Hajiya Imaan as “a mother indeed,” stressing that the Minister had demonstrated through her programmes that empowering women was synonymous with building the nation.
“Ma, you’ve been able to put smile on a lot of people, a lot of women, children, and this saying that when you build a woman, you are building a whole nation, it has really gone a long way,” she said.
The FOWA President also appreciated the Minister for her support for the Federal Fire Service and its leadership.
She explained that FOWA, despite being a non-governmental organisation without regular government funding, had continued to undertake humanitarian interventions through the support and commitment of its members.
Mrs Olumode listed some of the Association’s activities to include environmental initiatives, support for fire victims, visits to patients at the National Hospital, women’s empowerment programmes, interventions for girls in schools and support for children in vulnerable communities.
She said FOWA’s motto, “Providing Support for the Needy,” remained the driving force behind its interventions.
“We believe we are in one family, we are related, we are your children. And that is why we are here,” she said.
The FOWA President said the Association had come to formally align itself with the programmes and policies of the Ministry and expressed readiness to support government initiatives in areas including empowerment, training, environmental interventions and humanitarian services.
“We have come to align with the activities of the Ministry. We have come to tell you we are here. You should co-opt us into the activities. We are ready to move, to go with the way the Ministry is going,” she declared.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations Dept.
FMWASD
