Rotary Club Falomo (District 9112) has empowered 40 police officers’ wives into petty trading with N2 million.

The district said NPF Microfinance Bank would disburse the zero-interest loan to the 40 beneficiaries.

Speaking at the MOPOL 2 Barrack, Keffi-Ikoyi, Lagos, President of Rotary Club Falomo, Sandra Ovie, said the project’s idea was to help the police’s wives 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 police. That’s basically what we’re doing.”

Chairperson of the Police Officer Wives Association, POWA, Lagos State Command, Mrs Abiola Ishiola, in her remarks, said: “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.”

Meanwhile, 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.

She said: “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.”