The National President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria, Mrs Olufunmilola Disu, has called for stronger community-based partnerships to advance women’s inclusion and empowerment.
Mrs Disu made the call on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the Handshake Summit and Awards held at the UN Church Centre in New York.
In a keynote address titled “From Intention to Alliance: The Architecture of the Global Handshake,” Disu emphasised the need for global gender partnerships to translate into visible community development.
“POWA’s work is rooted in compassion, service, and community development,” she said.
“My vision is to strengthen our impact by expanding partnerships, supporting initiatives that uplift women economically, and contributing meaningfully to national and global conversations around gender equity and community resilience.
“The handshakes made in rooms like this must translate into tangible support for the families and communities we serve on the ground,” she added.
She also highlighted the importance of aligning international innovation with domestic realities, particularly at the grassroots level, where community women face poverty and insecurity.
The summit was described as a practical response to calls made by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, focusing on turning advocacy into measurable action.
The summit, themed “Advancing Women’s Influence in a Changing World,” was organised by the Semaform Foundation and ConcordeApp and attracted participants including government officials, global leaders, innovators, technology entrepreneurs, and gender-equity advocates.