IGP Kayode Egbetokun: Creating A Sense Of Pride And Purpose Within The Force -By Adewole Kehinde

“Honour is the reward of virtue,” — Marcus Tullius Cicero

The purpose of a recognition and reward system is to acknowledge and reinforce desired behaviours, performance, and achievements within an organization. It helps to motivate employees by showing appreciation for their hard work, dedication, and contributions.

 A well-designed recognition and reward system can also help to increase employee engagement, improve morale, and create a positive work culture. Additionally, it can assist in retaining top talent and fostering a sense of loyalty and commitment among employees.

Overall, the purpose of such a system is to positively impact employee motivation, satisfaction, and overall performance within the organisation.

That is why, on Friday, June 23, 2023, Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun stressed how crucial it is to acknowledge the priceless contributions made by Nigeria police officers despite enormous hardships. A new recognition and reward system is being implemented, which he announced with vision to better inspire and motivate our hardworking staff.

You will concur with me that the Nigeria Police employs diligent, truthful, and patriotic personnel. The Nigeria Police Force has been resolute in its mission to battle all types of criminality in the nation since its founding more than a century ago. Some have suffered injuries in the process, and some have given their lives to defend the nation.

IGP Egbetokun promised to work towards creating a police force that reflects the goals and values of the people and promotes a climate of professionalism, integrity, and respect during his inaugural speech to police officers. This move is essential to his ongoing efforts to fully modernise the Nigeria Police into a force fit to handle the problems posed by the nation’s ever-evolving criminal landscape and the growing sophistication of criminal groups.

It is no longer news that police officers have consistently shown commitment, selflessness, and outstanding performance every day in the face of hardship. Not only should their laborious efforts be acknowledged, but they truly deserve our deepest gratitude. A new era in the Force is being ushered in by IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s announcement of the Recognition and Reward system, which aims to inspire people to aspire to greatness by fostering an excellence-driven culture in addition to celebrating exceptional accomplishments.

The Nigeria Police Awards and Commendation Night provides the force with a chance to honour people who have distinguished themselves by making exceptional contributions to community involvement, crime prevention, and public safety.

These police officers are the epitome of honesty, bravery, and selflessness. According to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, during his press briefing on Friday at the Force Headquarters, the Force is deeply grateful and admiring of the commitment of its personnel to serving and safeguarding our communities.

He further said that this updated commendation scheme is a major improvement over the previous one. It no longer just focuses on arresting officers or commanders; instead, it now addresses all police engaged in any significant case.

The acknowledgement of the media and community leaders as crucial partners in law enforcement, whose work and cooperation have been essential in maintaining peace and order, is what makes the award ceremony special.

I am happy that Lenders Consult International, a private company and important player in Nigerian security, is partnering with the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony.

Strong leadership, an employee-focused culture, a clear mission and values statement, customer focus, creativity and adaptability, social responsibility, financial stability, openness and communication, ongoing improvement, and, of course, community involvement are just a few of the essential attributes that define Lenders Consult International.

It is my firm belief that the reward system’s implementation will foster police officers’ professional development in addition to improving their morale. It will instill a feeling of pride and purpose in the police by giving officers real acknowledgment for their successes, which inspires them to keep improving.

I eagerly anticipate the awards ceremony on Friday, April 5, 2024, at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja’s Congress Hall. There, prizes will be given to the following: Police Medical Personnel of the Year; Traffic Warden of the Year; Police Sports Person of the Year; Cybercrime Buster of the Year; Community Policing Advocate of the Year; and Police Public Relations Officer of the Year.

I am aware that the most exceptional police officer of the year will be acknowledged and rewarded, and that medals for gallantry and integrity will also be given out.

According to a press release issued on Saturday regarding the most recent Delta killings, policemen who died while performing their duties will also be honoured with a posthumous award.

In conclusion, I have high hopes for the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony, believing it will be a spectacular evening that will leave a legacy.

Adewole Kehinde is the publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached at 08166240846. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com