Good Things Have Come From Our Jerusalem
To every event, there must be a history. The historical trajectory in this context is the good news that good things have indeed come from our Jerusalem in the Nigeria Police Force. One would naturally wonder what this story is all about this time around.
The story is about the constant and deliberate effort of officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to change the general public perception that police officers do not produce or raise decent, responsible and successful children in the barracks. It is about correcting a long-standing stereotype and challenging the notion that nothing good can come out of the police family.
The biblical allusion that readily comes to mind is the question Nathanael asked about Jesus Christ in John 1:46: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” In our context, the question could well be: Can anything good come out of our Jerusalem in the Nigeria Police Force?
The answer, without any equivocation, is YES!
Indeed, it is better said that good things have come from our Nigerian society, particularly from the police family, than to continue asking whether anything good can come from our Jerusalem. The evidence is before us, and the stories are many.
Throughout the history of the Nigeria Police Force, officers and men have trained, nurtured and supported their children to understand the realities of life and succeed in their chosen careers. The Force, as a responsible institution, has also made efforts to promote morality, discipline, decency and education among its ranks and within police families across the board. The establishment of police primary and secondary schools has, over the years, contributed to the educational development of police children, providing opportunities for learning, social interaction and adaptation to the realities of a complex society like Nigeria.
Many people, at their fingertips, can readily mention some police children who have been properly raised and have succeeded in their respective careers. Yet, many others remain unnoticed and unsung heroes whose remarkable contributions to society deserve recognition.
Do many people even know that a police child is a sitting governor in Nigeria? Many children of police officers occupy top positions in ministries, departments and agencies of government, while others are making remarkable contributions in different professions and across the globe. Their stories are living testimonies to the fact that the police barracks can be a place where discipline, resilience, education and hard work are cultivated.
There was a time I published a short article on the exploits and inspiring story of the present Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, who grew up in the police barracks in Lagos. His father was a police officer who provided him with the necessary upbringing, discipline and educational foundation to pursue his dreams and succeed in life.
In his own words, Umo Eno acknowledged his background, saying, “I grew up in the Police Barracks; I am a Barracks boy.” He further explained that growing up in the barracks helped him understand community living and inter-tribal relationships. His story is a reminder that one's background, no matter how modest, does not have to become a limitation to one's aspirations. Today, he occupies the highest political office in Akwa Ibom State. His journey is a source of inspiration to police children who may sometimes feel that their circumstances place them at a disadvantage.
I am sure that, like many others, he has not forgotten where he came from. His story is one of the many reasons we must continue to celebrate the positive values and opportunities that have emerged from police families.
The story of the present Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale, is another episode on its own. CP Erale was born at Pedro Police Barracks, Shomolu, Lagos State, on 2 March 1968, when his father was serving as a police officer. The senior Erale was reportedly a disciplinarian who was deeply involved in maintaining discipline and supervising police personnel within his area of responsibility.
No wonder the younger Erale has earned a reputation as a thoroughbred officer, a disciplinarian and a professional to the core. Personally, as a public relations practitioner, I have observed his conduct and approach to duty and cannot help but appreciate the value of a sound upbringing in shaping an individual's character. His professional journey, which includes a degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and service in several commands and formations, further illustrates the possibilities available to children from police homes.
I can continue to mention many successful police children who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields. Without being sentimental, let me also mention the present Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Mr Mohammed Sheidu, who is also a police child. These are only a few examples of the many sons and daughters of police officers who have risen to positions of responsibility and continue to contribute to national development.
Generally, those who hold wrong perceptions about the police sometimes find it convenient to suggest that the system produces bad children, or that nothing good can ever come out of our Jerusalem in the NPF. Such a conclusion is not only unfair but also a gross misrepresentation of the realities of police family life.
Like every other family and institution, police families are not without their challenges. However, it is wrong to generalize the shortcomings of a few and use them to define an entire community. The achievements of police children across different professions and walks of life provide sufficient evidence to challenge such stereotypes.
Over the years, successive Inspectors-General of Police have pursued measures aimed at improving the welfare of personnel and creating better conditions for police families. These efforts recognize that policing does not end when an officer takes off the uniform. The wellbeing of an officer's household, the education of the children and the quality of life within the barracks can have a significant impact on morale, commitment and professional performance.
The efforts of the Police Officers' Wives Association (POWA), particularly through its welfare, educational, healthcare and empowerment programmes, have also been remarkable. The association has, for decades, played an important role in supporting police families and improving the welfare of women, children and other vulnerable members of the police community.
Presently, the determination to strengthen these initiatives continues under the leadership of the National President of POWA, Chief Mrs Olufunmilola Mutiat Disu, wife of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM.
POWA's programmes include healthcare outreaches, vocational and skills-acquisition training, educational support and scholarships, micro-investment grants, and initiatives to improve the welfare of barracks communities. Its POWA CARES outreach also provides health screening and livelihood support to low-cadre police families, while its youth-focused initiatives seek to equip barracks children with relevant digital and technological skills.
These are not merely programmes for the wives of police officers; they are investments in the stability, dignity and future of police households. When a police officer's spouse acquires a useful skill, receives business support or gains access to healthcare, the entire household stands to benefit. When a child receives educational support or access to new learning opportunities, the prospect of a brighter future becomes more realistic.
As POWA aptly states on its official website, its focus is on ensuring that police families have the health, tools and dignity required to thrive. This is a worthy mission because the strength of the Force is also influenced by the stability of the families behind the uniform.
It is also important to recognize that the welfare of police families is a shared responsibility. The relationship between the leadership of the Force and POWA provides an opportunity to complement operational policing with practical family support. The association's initiatives align with the broader objective of building a motivated, disciplined and professional police institution.
In the same vein, the welfare policies of the IGP, including attention to the families of officers who are killed in the line of duty or die in active service, remain important to the wellbeing of bereaved families and their children. Support for education, insurance benefits, empowerment and other welfare interventions can help prevent children who have lost their parents in service from becoming unnecessarily disadvantaged. Such support also sends a strong message to serving personnel that the institution recognizes the sacrifices they make and the responsibilities they leave behind.
The current IGP, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has also placed renewed emphasis on personnel welfare and the improvement of living conditions in police barracks. In September 2026, he inspected 23 police barracks across the country to assess the living conditions of officers and their families and identify accommodation and infrastructure gaps requiring intervention. During the exercise, the IGP emphasized the importance of decent accommodation and functional welfare infrastructure to personnel morale and effectiveness. As reported by Punch on 6 September 2026, he stated: “Personnel who dedicate themselves to the protection of lives and property deserve decent and conducive living conditions.”
This is a significant point. The police officer who is expected to protect lives and property deserves a home environment that supports family life, and the children of that officer deserve an environment in which they can learn, grow and aspire to greatness.
The Nigeria Police Trust Fund has also been an important partner in strengthening the institutional foundations of the Force. In March 2026, the NPF highlighted the Fund's record of training programmes, infrastructure projects and interventions in housing, healthcare and smart-policing facilities. The IGP stressed the importance of housing, accessible healthcare and the timely payment of insurance and welfare benefits, particularly for junior-ranking officers who carry substantial operational responsibilities.
These developments demonstrate that the welfare of police personnel and their families must remain central to police reform. Better barracks infrastructure, functional schools, accessible healthcare, educational support and sustainable empowerment programmes are not luxuries; they are essential investments in the human beings behind the uniform.
Indeed, when one experiences the atmosphere of love, decency, warmth and togetherness that can be found within police barracks and residential communities, one begins to appreciate the positive side of police family life. The sense of community, mutual support, discipline and esprit de corps can provide a valuable foundation for raising responsible children.
Of course, we must not romanticize the challenges that still exist. Some police families continue to contend with inadequate accommodation, financial pressures and other difficulties that require sustained attention. These realities should encourage more deliberate investment in police welfare, not reinforce negative stereotypes about the children of police officers.
The objective should be to ensure that every police child, irrespective of the rank of their parent or the location of their barracks, has a fair opportunity to receive a sound education, develop good character and fulfil their potential.
Generally, the perception must change, especially among those who continue to live in the past and those who remain oblivious to the achievements of police families. The idea that police children are somehow “condemned,” useless or incapable of adding value to society is a big lie. Their achievements in public service, business, academia, security, law, medicine and other professions tell a different story.
The children of police officers are not defined by the uniform their parents wear, the barracks in which they grow up or the challenges their families may face. They are defined by their values, opportunities, choices, hard work and determination to succeed.
Let us, therefore, continue to celebrate the unsung heroes of our police families, encourage the education and empowerment of police children, and support every meaningful effort to improve the living conditions of officers and their households.
Let us tell these stories because positive examples deserve to be heard. Let us recognise the parents who make sacrifices to educate their children, the institutions that provide opportunities for their development, and the children who rise above limitations to distinguish themselves in society.
The next time anyone asks whether anything good can come out of our Jerusalem, we should confidently point to the many successful sons and daughters of police officers who have made, and continue to make, meaningful contributions to Nigeria and the world.
The evidence is there. The stories are many. The achievements are real.
GOOD THINGS HAVE COME FROM OUR JERUSALEM IN THE NIGERIA POLICE FORCE!
Omooba Olumuyiwa Adejobi, fnipr,
Fellow of the Institute of Public Relations, Oba Adejobi's House, Orile Owu, Osun State, Nigeria
Princemoye@gmail.com.
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