In an address at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), Mrs. Mutiat Olufunmilola Disu, President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), called for stronger global collaboration to empower women leaders and enhance their influence in shaping sustainable societies.
Delivering the opening remarks at the Handshake Summit & Awards, held at the Church Center for the United Nations, Mrs. Disu highlighted the urgent need to move from mere intentions to actionable alliances.
The summit, themed “Advancing Women’s Influence in a Changing World,” convened policymakers, development experts, and advocates dedicated to strengthening women’s participation in leadership and governance.
In her presentation, titled “From Intention to Alliance: Architecture of the Global Handshake,” Mrs. Disu stressed that partnerships and cooperative leadership are critical to advancing gender equality on a global scale.
“Sustainable societies are built not only on policies but on the collaborative spirit of women working across sectors, borders, and institutions,” she noted.
Drawing from POWA’s extensive work in Nigeria, Mrs. Disu showcased the association’s initiatives in education, healthcare, welfare, and community development that support police families, women, and youth.
She emphasised that these programmes are examples of how institutional networks can promote empowerment at the grassroots level while inspiring broader societal change.
Mrs. Disu’s address underscored the potential of women-led collaborations to influence policy, foster community resilience, and drive sustainable development.
By bridging local initiatives with global partnerships, she argued, women leaders can create lasting impact that transcends borders.
This feature highlights POWA’s ongoing commitment to nurturing leadership and social responsibility, demonstrating how institutional advocacy can resonate on the world stage.
Accompanying Mrs. Disu were members of the POWA Executive, including Mrs. Taibat Adenola and Mrs. Bolajoko Funsho Adegboye, as well as members of the Nigeria Police delegation to CSW70: AIG Aishatu Abubakar Baju, ACP Olabisi Okuwobi, and ACP Dolapo Badmos, who serves as the Nigeria Police Force Permanent Mission’s Representative to the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The summit also welcomed representation from the Nigerian federal government. Ms. Abe Jawando represented the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, while Major Nneka Olimma-Adinweruka, Gender Officer in the Office of the Honourable Minister of Defence, represented the Minister of Defence.
