Thursday June 25, 2026
www.thenewsdesk.ng
The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, has called on senior police officers to embrace mentorship as a fundamental leadership responsibility and a critical tool for building the next generation of professional police leaders within the Nigeria Police Force.
The CP made the call during the Command’s End-of-the-Month Conference with senior officers held at the Command Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, in Uyo with the theme “Mentorship in Policing: Building the Next Generation of Professional Police Leaders” in Uyo on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
CP Azare Azare emphasised that the future strength, effectiveness, and credibility of the Nigeria Police Force depend largely on the quality of leadership being cultivated today.
According to him, mentorship remains one of the most powerful instruments for institutional growth, adding that policing is not merely about enforcing the law but also about developing capable, disciplined, ethical and service-oriented officers who will sustain the vision and values of the Force.
The conference formed part of the Command’s continuous efforts to promote professional excellence, ethical policing, leadership development and effective service delivery in line with the vision of the Inspector-General of Police for a modern, accountable and people-centered Police Force.
He said, “Mentorship remains one of the most powerful instruments for institutional growth today. Policing is not about enforcing the law but also about developing capable, disciplined, ethical, and service-oriented officers who will sustain the vision and values of the Force
“I, therefore, want to call on senior police officers to embrace mentorship which is the fundamental leadership responsibility and a critical tool for building the next generation of professional police leaders within the Nigeria Police Force.”
The police boss pointed out that every senior officer has a dual responsibility: not only to command personnel and achieve operational objectives but also 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 Inspectors General of tomorrow are among today’s junior officers and must therefore be properly nurtured through deliberate mentorship.
“This mentorship becomes necessary because commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors General, Deputy Inspectors General, and Inspectors General of tomorrow are among today’s junior officers and must therefore be properly nurtured through deliberate mentorship,” he stressed
The CP highlighted the importance of transferring institutional knowledge, operational experience, professional ethics, investigative skills, intelligence-gathering techniques and leadership values from experienced officers to younger personnel.
Speaking on leadership succession, the CP urged senior officers to see mentorship as a strategic investment in the future of the Force, noting that true leadership is not measured 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, the CP 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 continuously guide younger personnel in these principles, noting that the conduct of police officers directly influences public confidence and the image of the Force.
The lecture generated robust discussions among participants, who acknowledged the importance of mentorship in strengthening leadership capacity, enhancing professionalism, and ensuring sustainable succession within the Nigeria Police Force.
*Punch
CP Azare Urges Senior Officers To Mentor Next Generation Of Leaders
