By Adewole Kehinde
As Nigeria commemorates 70 years of women in policing, it is important to pause and reflect on the remarkable journey, from the modest beginnings of 1955 to the transformational strides witnessed in 2025.
This year’s celebration, themed “70 Years of Courage and Service: Honouring Women in Policing, Inspiring the Future,” is not just a ceremonial milestone; it is a tribute to generations of brave women who defied limitations and a testament to the visionary leadership of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
When the first set of women enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1955, they were just 20 courageous pioneers, trailblazers who entered a profession that barely gave them space to grow. Their roles were severely restricted.
They were recruited primarily as tea girls, telephone operators, and officers responsible for helping children cross the road on their way to school. They were not allowed to carry arms, and certainly not considered for operational assignments.
It was a policing system that mirrored the societal biases of the time.
But today, thanks to deliberate and progressive reforms under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the picture is profoundly different. Nigerian women in policing are no longer passive participants; they are full-fledged operational officers. We now proudly boast of female Deputy Inspectors General of Police (DIGs), Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs), and Commissioners of Police, as well as women leading critical commands and institutions across the country.
This transformation did not happen by accident. It happened because Egbetokun chose to champion inclusion.
One of the most commendable steps under his leadership is the commitment to expunge discriminatory provisions from the Police Act and police regulations, policies that historically hindered women’s progression. Furthermore, the launch of the Nigeria Police Force Gender Policy last year marked a groundbreaking advancement.
The policy outlines eight strategic objectives, including increasing women’s participation in leadership, strengthening the fight against gender-based violence, and closing the gender gap at all levels of the Force.
IGP Egbetokun has also gone beyond policy statements. Under his guidance, a bill has been presented at the National Assembly seeking to expand the women’s recruitment quota, ensuring that 15 to 20 per cent of recruits are women. This is a progressive step toward gender equity in a field long dominated by men.
Perhaps one of the most symbolic demonstrations of trust in women officers under this administration is the appointment of female senior officers to head Police College Ikeja, Police College Kaduna, and Police College Oji River.
Entrusting the training and grooming of Nigeria’s next generation of police officers to women is nothing short of phenomenal. It signals confidence, capability, and a new era of policing excellence.
As we celebrate the 70th anniversary, the Nigerian public must also play its role. Our women police officers are not just officers; they are also mothers, wives, family pillars, and community builders. Society’s expectations of them are enormous, sometimes even unfairly so.
We must support them, appreciate them, and acknowledge their sacrifices. The progress we see today is because they have given their all to serve their nation with dignity, courage, and resilience.
This year’s celebrations capture the essence of service, impact, and community engagement. Activities include:
- School outreach programmes
- Career talks for young girls
- A 5-kilometre walk against gender-based violence
- Distribution of hygiene packs to 1,000 girls
- A special all-female workday showcasing the operational competence of women police officers
The festivities will culminate in a grand finale on December 4, a ceremony dedicated to honouring pioneering female officers and celebrating the exceptional women currently serving in the Force. The presence of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the Special Guest of Honour, affirms the national importance of this milestone.
IGP Kayode Egbetokun deserves commendation for charting a new course for women in policing, one defined not by limitations but by limitless possibilities. His reforms are reshaping the Nigeria Police Force into an institution where women can lead, inspire, and influence real change.
As we celebrate 70 years of courage and service, we honour not just the past but the future, a future where Nigerian women in policing stand tall, empowered, and unstoppable.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com X: @kennyadewole
