The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, have honoured the contributions of pioneer female police officers to the development of the Nigeria Police Force, highlighting their courage, resilience and role in expanding opportunities for women in law enforcement.
The tribute was paid on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at the launch of a book documenting the history and experiences of the first generation of female police officers in Nigeria.
The book, titled Origin of Police Women in Nigeria: The Story of the Pioneer Women Officers and My Journey in the Nigeria Police Force (1955–1996), was authored by 96-year-old Dame Stella O. Okuyiga, DCP (retd.), KBVM, JP, one of the first 20 women recruited into the force in 1955.
Disu, who served as the chief launcher at the event, described the publication as more than a literary undertaking, saying it celebrated the courage, sacrifice and pioneering achievements of women who helped shape the history of the police institution.
He said the book also underscored the importance of parental responsibility in raising disciplined children, noting that adult delinquency and poor upbringing contributed to some of the security challenges confronting the country.
According to the IGP, policing alone cannot guarantee a safe society, stressing that effective security requires homes that instil discipline and sound values in children, communities that support the law, and a police force that works closely with both.
Disu noted that the event was particularly significant because it coincided with the International Week of the Girl Child, which, he said, reinforced the need to ensure that gender did not limit the aspirations and opportunities available to girls.
Reflecting on the recruitment of women into the Nigeria Police Force in 1955, the IGP said their responsibilities and opportunities were initially constrained by the prevailing realities of the period.
He, however, noted that the pioneer officers distinguished themselves through competence, determination and resilience, laying the foundation for subsequent generations of women to take on greater responsibilities within the institution.
“Today, women officers have moved beyond administrative and traffic duties into criminal investigation, intelligence, tactical operations, specialist policing and strategic management.
“They lead commands and direct operations, proving that competence, leadership and dedication are not defined by gender,” he said.
The police chief described Okuyiga as a member of a distinguished generation that ventured into uncharted territory and established a place for women in an institution where their opportunities were once limited.
“Mama, your service represents not merely a personal career but a significant chapter in the history of our force,” he said.
In her remarks, Okuyiga, popularly known as Mama, described the book launch as a major milestone in her life, expressing joy that her experiences and contributions would be preserved for posterity.
She said the publication would help sustain her legacy, adding that the book would be made available in libraries around the world to enable readers to learn from her experiences and the evolution of women in policing.
Reflecting on her years in service, the retired deputy commissioner said the Nigeria Police Force had undergone significant transformation since she joined in 1955, adding that population growth had created new challenges for policing.
She also commended Disu for encouraging female officers to pursue professional development and career advancement, saying the current police leadership had demonstrated a commitment to equipping women with the education, skills and opportunities needed to progress in the service.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, said the publication went beyond a historical account by documenting the courage, sacrifices and achievements of the women who pioneered female participation in the Nigeria Police Force.
He said their stories deserved to be preserved, celebrated and passed on to future generations, noting that their contributions demonstrated that professionalism, discipline, courage and commitment to public service were not determined by gender.
The governor urged young people, particularly girls, to draw inspiration from the experiences of the pioneer officers and aspire to leadership positions in law enforcement and other areas of national development.
He also commended Okuyiga for documenting the history of women in the police force at the age of 96, describing the effort as an important contribution to institutional memory and national history.
Similarly, the Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, represented by a director in the ministry, said the book would preserve the history of women in policing, recognise their contributions and inspire young girls to serve the country with pride.
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Force Gender Adviser to the IGP, AIG Aishatu Abubakar, delivered a lecture on the evolution of women in policing and national security, while Dr Setechi Okechukwu Eli reviewed the book.
Dignitaries at the event included former Rivers State Deputy Governor Gabriel Toby and his wife; serving and retired assistant inspectors-general of police; the commissioners of police in Rivers and Bayelsa states; serving and retired judicial officers; educationists; traditional rulers; the Rivers State Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Dr Voke Emore; and representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA).
