By Emeka Nwokocha

To those who have lost hope that Nigeria would ever get better, and are now making speedy effort to “Japa” – relocate to foreign land, my advice to them is, “pause your plans. Nigeria will soon get better with ongoing innovations and plan to nip the country’s seeming intractable insecurity in the bud.”

When that happens, Nigeria will regain her peace and conducive environment that will reawaken foreign interests to invest in the country and revamp her sick economy, then it will be “El Dorado.”

On that note, l sincerely commend CSP Omosetemi Agbede-Zuokumor, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ugborikoko Divisional Police Headquarters and her team of experts from the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) and Education Sector, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe and Amb. (Dr.) Onyi Ikemefuna, for broaching an innovation known as “Basic Security Education Campaign” in government and private/ primary and secondary schools across the 774 local government areas of Nigeria.

The innovation aims to strengthen community policing, curb insecurity, foster proactive security awareness and eradicate all manner of crime in Nigeria, and reposition the country to achieving economic transformation, scientific breakthrough and technological revolution.

Obviously inspired by the vision that propelled the innovation and the success it has set out to achieve, the brains behind the innovation kicked off the pilot phase of the “Basic Security Education Campaign” on 13th January, 2025, at Uvwie and Warri South local government areas of Delta State, reaching out to the students and pupils of Delta Careers College, High Hill college, High Hill primary school, Cherish Montessori Cambridge Academy, Itu Royal Schools, Shamar Educational Foundation, Gentle Star Academy, Ugborikoko primary and secondary schools, Cradle School, Centre for Education Development, Dom-Domingos college, Rute Int’l School, Urhobo College, and Spring-Well Schools.

The campaign was rich in contents and spiced with impactful topics such as Leadership Development, Etiquette, and Proper Conduct; Fundamentals of Security, Citizens’ Rights, and Social Responsibilities; and Policing, You and Your Environment.”

The arrival of the team of educators – CSP Zuokumor, Pastor Egedegbe and Dr. Ikemefuna, to the schools was greeted with thunderous excitement. The modesty and stately carriage of CSP Omosetemi Zuokumor, matched with the grand dispositions of Pastor Egedegbe and Dr. Onyi Ikemefuna further ignited a rapturous ovation from the students and pupils who filed out to the assembly points to listen attentively to the educators.

Interestingly, as the talk continued and dwelling on the designated topics, the composure of the students and pupils was inspiring, just as their innate passion and patriotic dispositions signalled a reassurance that there is abundance of hope for a better Nigeria in the coming years.

Without mincing words, the expression of enthusiasm by the crowd of students and pupils to embrace the message was prominent throughout the sessions.

In their humble dispositions, the learners demonstrated courage and eagerness to learn and grasp the lessons being imparted to them, just as they significantly displayed readiness to champion national causes that will catalyse national harmony and engender growth and development of Nigeria.

On their part, the principals, head teachers and managements of the schools expressed their gratitude to the drivers of the innovation and passionately called on the governments, corporate organisations, and good spirited individuals to support the innovation, stating that the country needs such revolutionary ideas that centre on non-kinetic approach to tackling the worsening insecurity pervading the country.

As a measure of the impacts the Basic Security Education Campaign would have on the society, it is gratifying to note that as the sessions successfully rounded off, the students and pupils would have improved their understanding of the basic role of the Nigeria Police Force in maintaining peace, including their constitutional rights and responsibilities to foster a culture of lawfulness and promote inclusivity.

In addition, they would have raised their understanding of the rudiments of good leadership as they look forward to active participation in promoting a safe and progressive society, including gaining extant knowledge of how to be security conscious in their neighborhoods, and the need to promptly report suspicious activities to their parents, who will escalate the reports to the police in order to promote a safe neighbourhood.

Above all, the programme will make a lasting memory in the students and pupils and they will be grateful to the initiators of the programme for availing them the opportunity to learn the citizens’ complementary responsibility in assisting the police carry out their statutory duties efficiently.

Also of significant note is the knowledge gained by the students and pupils about body autonomy; how to prevent sexual molestation and abuse; and why they must protect their bodies and speak up against any form of abuse, including a caution to the students and pupils to avoid harmful practices such as drug abuse and substance use.

In reiterating my honour to the trio of CSP Omosetemi Agbede-Zuokumor,, Pastor Edewor Egedegbe and Amb. Dr. Onyi Ikemefuna, l respectfully applaud their rare sense of creativity and commitment to societal cause as demonstrated in the energy and zeal they deployed to making the programme very successful outreach.

Truly, Nigeria will be great if we collectively drive the narratives that engender change!