A former Commissioner of Police, Apostle Sybil Olufunmilayo Akinfenwa, has charged policewomen to be courageous, resilient and purpose-driven, urging them to see themselves as builders who have vital roles to play in strengthening their families, the Nigeria Police Force and society.
Dr. Akinfenwa, a lecturer at the Department of Criminology and Security Studies at Lead City University, Ibadan, gave the charge during a programme organised for policewomen at the Nigeria Police Force, Eleyele, Ibadan.
The programme focused on courage, resilience, purposeful living, family responsibility and the role of women in the police force in building a safer and better society.
Addressing the women, the cleric urged them to approach their duties with courage, dedication and strategic thinking, noting that the demanding nature of policing required resilience and determination.
She drew from her personal experiences in the police, including her time at Mokola Police Station, where she said she encountered several challenges but remained committed to her duties and eventually overcame them.
Akinfenwa also recalled an incident during an election when ballot boxes were allegedly removed from her polling centre. She said her handling of the situation attracted the attention of the then Commissioner of Police, who was looking for her because of her courage.
According to her, her achievements in life were largely products of dedication, hard work and commitment, urging the policewomen not to allow challenges to derail their aspirations.
Explaining the meaning of “Sheerah,” Akinfenwa said it meant “she builds,” encouraging the policewomen to embrace the identity of builders and recognise their contributions to nation-building.
She also urged them to pay attention to the upbringing of their children, stressing the need to nurture them physically, spiritually and emotionally to enable them grow into responsible members of society.
The university don noted that policewomen carried a dual responsibility of caring for their families while contributing to the maintenance of law and order, urging them to continue supporting efforts to protect lives and property across the country.
