Senior Police Officers Urge Embracing Mentorship

Okon Bassey in Uyo

The Commissioner of Police (CP) for Akwa Ibom State, Baba Mohammed Azare, urged senior officers to adopt mentorship as a core leadership duty and a key tool for cultivating the next generation of professional police leaders within the Nigeria Police Force.

CP Azare delivered the message during a lecture titled “Mentorship in Policing: Building the Next Generation of Professional Police Leaders” at the Command’s End‑of‑the‑Month Conference, held at the Command Headquarters in Ikot Akpan‑Abia, Uyo.

Addressing officers from Area Commands, Divisions, Tactical Units, Departments, and Formations across the state, the commissioner emphasized that the future strength, effectiveness, and credibility of the Nigeria Police Force depend largely on the quality of leadership being nurtured today.

He noted that mentorship is one of the most powerful instruments for institutional growth, stressing that policing is not only about enforcing the law but also about shaping capable, disciplined, ethical, and service‑oriented officers who will uphold the Force’s vision and values.

According to CP Azare, every senior officer carries a dual responsibility: to command personnel and achieve operational objectives, and to intentionally guide, coach, and develop younger officers for future leadership roles.

He observed that the Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General, and future Inspectors General are among today’s junior officers and must therefore be nurtured through deliberate mentorship.

CP Azare highlighted the importance of transferring institutional knowledge, operational experience, professional ethics, investigative skills, intelligence‑gathering techniques, and leadership values from seasoned officers to younger personnel.

He stressed that many critical competencies required for effective policing are acquired through practical experience and guided exposure rather than formal classroom instruction alone.

The commissioner underscored mentorship’s role in promoting professionalism, discipline, accountability, and respect for human rights.

He maintained that officers who receive proper guidance and positive leadership are more likely to demonstrate integrity, uphold ethical standards, and avoid misconduct, corruption, abuse of authority, and other unprofessional behaviors that can erode public trust in the Police.

Speaking on leadership succession, CP Azare urged senior officers to view mentorship as a strategic investment in the Force’s future.

He stated that true leadership is measured not only by crime statistics, arrests, or operational achievements but by the number of officers developed, the quality of future leaders produced, and the professional values transmitted to succeeding generations.

On human‑rights policing, Azare reminded officers that modern policing demands professionalism, transparency, accountability, respect for human dignity, and adherence to the rule of law.

He urged senior officers to continually guide younger personnel in these principles, noting that police conduct directly influences public confidence and the Force’s image.

The commissioner charged all officers to commit to building a culture of mentorship within their respective areas of responsibility, stressing that a police leader’s enduring legacy lies not in the office held but in the leaders developed.

The conference was part of the Command’s ongoing efforts to promote professional excellence, ethical policing, leadership development, and effective service delivery in line with the Inspector‑General of Police’s vision for a modern, accountable, and people‑centered Police Force.