But, I have a special concern at heart. Over the years, the image of the Nigeria Police has been worrisome to me. In America, for instance, the policeman/ woman is seen as a working-class hero. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the Policeman/woman is seen as a working-class traitor. I yearn to see how I could remedy the situation. So, I joined the Police force, not only to help redeem but also redefine the image of the policeman/woman in Nigeria.
Considering the objective for which you enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force, how do you hope to go achieve this task, because it seems somewhat an ‘mission impossible’?
Where the heart is willing, it finds a thousand ways. Where it is unwilling, it finds a thousand excuses. My heart is willing. I believe in leadership by example.
As an insider and having imbibed the ideals and qualities, it starts with my personal interface with colleagues and others in my own day-to-day activities. That is the first step. Speeches at conferences and workshops constitute another. We’ must strive to prove that the police is truly our friend. And, if I succeed in writing one or two books in that regard, I would have done something meaningful.
More importantly, in the course of our training, our Commandant, ACP Mu’azu Mohammed, and his Team equipped us with basic knowledge and skills necessary in our primary duty as Supernumerary Police Officers. We are bound to approach our duties with every sense of diligence, decency and dignity, in a cordial relationship with the Regular Police Officers. Giving the training and experiences we have acquired, I trust it is a mission quite possible.
In your efforts at achieving your goal, do you intend to network with other people?
Yes, of course, I do. The more we are, the easier it becomes. Following the success of my graduation, many of my friends and colleagues in the academia have indicated interests in the same training. Working together with committed personalities would make the journey smooth and successful.
Can you intimate us with the significance the awards you got and what you did differently to earn them?
I got two special awards. One was for the Most Valuable Student and the other, for the Overall Best Student. Indeed, work is a stubborn truth on which you can bet, the harder you work, the luckier you get. I believe in hard work.
As a student, at the Police Training College, I was devoted to duty, in classroom exercises and field work. While I enjoyed the classroom activities, the field work particularly, the parade was tedious for me. I discovered my areas of weaknesses and worked tirelessly on them. Apart from general drills, with my colleagues, I also went for private drills. My instructors also devoted their time and energy to give me extra coaching.
There were ten different examinations, on ten courses, taught by ten different lecturers, and then the Commandant’s general/individual assessments, comprising parade and viva. I was committed to all of these. Overall, I am specially ennobled by the crème de la crème of the staff of the Police Training College, Ikeja, and my Alma Mater. I am happy that my hard work was appreciated. I am thrilled. I am humbled and also challenged.
