By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called for sustained partnership and intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen police education, research, technology-driven policing and the successful take-off of the new campus of the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil, Kano state.
The IGP made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, in Abuja on Thursday, where both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to deepening collaboration in the area of security education, institutional development and professional training.
Speaking during the visit, the police chief described education as the foundation of effective policing and national development, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force could not effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities without continuous investment in training and knowledge acquisition.
“We realize that we cannot do our job without education,” the IGP said. “If you notice any lapses in what the police do, all the complaints against the police boil down to education. We are trying everything possible to upgrade the kind of education we give to our officers.”
He noted that the visit was strategic and highly significant to the force’s ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity through education, research and professional development.
The IGP commended TETFund for its continued interventions in the Nigeria Police Academy, saying the support had enhanced academic infrastructure, research capabilities, staff development and overall educational standards within the institution.
According to him, the interventions have helped position the academy among the leading security-oriented tertiary institutions in the country.
He further highlighted the establishment of the new Nigeria Police Academy campus in Ogun State as a major milestone in the ongoing reform and modernization agenda of the Nigeria Police Force.
The police boss explained that the institution would focus on specialized and technology-driven policing courses, including forensic science, criminology, cyber security, artificial intelligence, data analytics and drone operations.
“You cannot do good policing without wonderful forensic officers and forensic departments,” he said. “We need specialists and criminologists because crimes are becoming more sophisticated.”
The IGP stressed the need for scientific and research-based policing, noting that modern security operations now rely heavily on analytics and predictive intelligence.
He disclosed that the force already has officers trained in artificial intelligence and drone deployment for operational purposes, adding that crime prediction and data analytics were increasingly becoming integral parts of modern policing.
“We are doing analytics in policing. We can predict crimes happening. All over the world, expert security operatives analyze data and predict crimes,” he stated.
The IGP however appealed for continued TETFund intervention in critical areas including lecture theatres, laboratories, ICT facilities, research centres, libraries, student accommodation and staff development programmes for the new police academy campus.
He also assured TETFund of transparency, accountability and effective collaboration in the management of all interventions relating to the institution.
In his response, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arch. Sonny Echono, commended the IGP for his professionalism, leadership and commitment to reforming the Nigeria Police Force.
Echono described the police chief as an accomplished officer whose reputation as a “top cop” had preceded him over the years due to his intelligence, professionalism and excellent service record.
According to him, the Nigeria Police Academy in Wudil, Kano State, has remained one of the beneficiary institutions of TETFund interventions, particularly in the area of training and institutional support for personnel of the force.
Echono disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the establishment of a new campus of the Police Academy in Ogun State and that TETFund had already made funds available for its take-off facilities.
He revealed that a joint team from TETFund and the Nigeria Police Force would soon embark on inspection and evaluation visits to assess the needs of the new campus for immediate development.
The TETFund Executive Secretary advised the police leadership to ensure that the new campus attains full university status within the shortest possible time in order to qualify for direct annual disbursements and sustainable funding from the agency.
“The moment you develop it to a point where it becomes self-sustaining, it will get sustainable funding from us every year,” he said.
Echono assured the police force of continuous support in academic staff training, specialized professional courses and capacity development programmes needed to address emerging security challenges.
He noted that technological advancement had made policing both easier and more complex, as criminal elements now deploy advanced technology to perpetrate crimes.
“The only way we can keep pace with the evolution of crime is to continually train serving officers through continuous professional development and specialization,” he said.
The TETFund boss further pledged the agency’s support for specialized security-related training programmes, similar to interventions already being extended to the aviation sector and other critical national institutions.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration between TETFund and the police in safeguarding educational institutions across the country, particularly against threats such as kidnapping and attacks on schools.
Echono noted that the Nigeria Police Force remained the nation’s first line of defense in ensuring the safety of schools and educational communities nationwide.
He described the visit as historic, noting that it was the first time a serving Inspector-General of Police had visited TETFund headquarters during his tenure as Executive Secretary.
“We will not forget the significance of this day, and we will reflect that in what we can support you,” Echono assured.
