By Ogenyi Ogenyi,Uyo
Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Baba 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.
Azare made the call while delivering a lecture titled “Mentorship in Policing: Building the Next Generation of Professional Police Leaders” during the Command’s End-of-the-Month Conference with senior officers in Uyo yesterday.
Addressing officers drawn 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 would depend largely on the quality of leadership being cultivated today.
He noted that mentorship remains one of the most powerful instruments for institutional growth, stressing 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.
According to him, “every senior officer bears 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.
“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.”.
CP Azare further 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 and stressed that many of the critical competencies required for effective policing are acquired through practical experience and guided exposure rather than formal classroom instruction alone.
The Commissioner underscored the role of mentorship in promoting professionalism, discipline, accountability, and respect for human rights insisting 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 behaviours capable of undermining public trust in the Police.
Speaking on leadership succession, Azare urged senior officers to see mentorship as a strategic investment in the future of the Force adding that, “true leadership is not measured solely 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.
He reminded officers that modern policing would demand professionalism, transparency, accountability, respect for human dignity, and adherence to the rule of law, noting that the conduct of police officers directly influence 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.
