Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olukayode Egbetokun, has declared open an Executive Capacity Building Workshop for top leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, aimed at strengthening the institution’s ability to confront evolving security challenges in the country.
The workshop, held on Monday, 22 September 2025, at the Police Resource Centre, Abuja, was organised in partnership with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP).
Speaking at the opening ceremony, IGP Egbetokun emphasised the need to build leadership that is “faster, sharper, and more innovative” to address Nigeria’s rapidly evolving and complex security environment. “Conflicts no longer wait. Neither can we,” he said, stressing the need for foresight, creativity, and agility in policing.
He commended SPSP for its foresight in bridging scholarship and policing practice, praising the contributions of its founder, Professor Isaac Olawale Albert, whom he described as the “Father of Peace,” as well as Professor Suleiman Elias Bogoro, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and the current President, Mr. Nathaniel Msen Awuapila, for their leadership roles in advancing peace studies and practice in Nigeria.
The one-day workshop, themed “Managing Fast-Paced Security Challenges in a Protracted Conflict Environment,” will focus on key areas including conflict analysis, conflict-sensitive decision-making, strengthening early warning and early response systems, and linking conflict analysis to policy development.
According to the police chief, the sessions are designed to equip commanders with practical tools for effective leadership, crisis management, and confidence-building within the force. He emphasised that the goal of the workshop was not just individual learning but a “collective transformation” of the police into an institution that is agile, bold, and united in vision.
“The lessons gained here must echo in our policies, reflect in our operations, and be felt in the daily lives of Nigerians who look to us for safety,” IGP Egbetokun charged participants, urging them to translate insights from the training into actionable strategies.
He declared the workshop open with a call on police leaders to embrace the opportunity as a means to renew their vision, sharpen their instincts, and reaffirm their oath to serve with courage, honour, and distinction.
Nathaniel Awuapila, President of the SPSP, described the capacity building of senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as critical to reshaping the country’s security architecture and fostering peace, justice, and national cohesion.
Awuapila said the programme is more than a routine training, stressing that it represents “a transformative journey aimed at repositioning the NPF as a proactive, intelligence-driven institution.”
The workshop, which was organised pro bono by SPSP, aligns with the policing vision of the IGP, particularly in areas of proactive crime prevention, adherence to legal frameworks, use of technology in intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration.
According to him, it also dovetails with Nigeria’s National Security Strategy, the Police Reform Agenda, and global peacebuilding frameworks.
“This initiative is a deliberate investment in the ethical, analytical, and visionary leadership required to navigate Nigeria’s evolving security landscape,” Awuapila said.
He added that the training would combine expert presentations, case studies, and collaborative dialogue to equip commanders with the foresight and integrity needed to lead effectively.
He also emphasised that the partnership between SPSP and the Police Force reflects profound respect for the NPF’s role as the lead agency for internal security.
Awuapila hailed the IGP’s support for the collaboration, noting that less than a year after both institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), SPSP has trained officers across various cadres, starting with Chief Superintendents of Police, and now extending to senior leadership.
“In this period, about one hundred officers have joined SPSP and been formally inducted as members.
“Today’s pro bono training is our way of reaffirming the confidence you have placed in us and our commitment to strengthening the internal security architecture of our great nation”, Awuapila disclosed.
The SPSP president also acknowledged the support of key figures in the society, including its founder, Isaac Albert, described as the “Father of Peace,” and Suleiman Bogoro, Chairman of its Board of Trustees, whose leadership he said has provided stability and direction.
Awuapila urged the officers to approach the workshop with open minds and a determination to become transformational leaders capable of confronting Nigeria’s complex and fast-evolving security threats.
“Effective policing is not solely about enforcement; it is about foresight, collaboration, and the courage to lead with purpose.
“Let us challenge assumptions, share insights, and emerge not merely as administrators, but as transformational leaders”, he said.
He expressed hope that the engagement would mark the beginning of a new chapter of excellence, innovation, and unity in Nigeria’s collective pursuit of peace and security.
