Okiro harps on good leadership skills as weapon against crime

Former Inspector General of Police and Chairman, Police Service Commission, Dr Mike Okiro (rtd) has advised Nigerians that mentorship and good leadership skills are the best tools for the fight against crime and its prevention in Nigeria.
Okiro said this at the 2016 National Youth Summit on Crime Prevention organised by African Youths Initiative on Crime Prevention (AYCRIP), with the theme: ‘Securing our Lives, Community and Country through Prevention Mechanism’ which took place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos recently.
The former IG who chaired the event spoke on ‘The Role of Mentorship and Good Leadership Skills’ as the two tools that are more effective in the prevention of crime.
“But it must be said that these tools are not meant for the security agencies alone, but for every Nigerian in love with this country who desires a crime free nation. Administrators of schools should pay due attention to this and help build future generations of Nigerians who, from the school age, would abhor crime and detest criminality,” Okiro said.

The former IG concluded that Nigeria will be a better place if all believe in mentoring the younger ones and building in them the ethics of patriotism, adding that the failure or problem of leadership is not only at the level of national or state but also includes poverty of leadership at homes, Churches, Mosques and schools as well as in associations and work places.
Also speaking at the event, United States Consul-General, Francis John Bray, stressed the importance of investing in the next generation, ideas and energy that will change the face of Africa in order not to lose talents.
“We gathered here today because of the daily dangers facing young people, as you know all too well that drug  abuse, drug trafficking, street robbery, kidnapping among others are all tied to difficulties in finding employment, gaining access to education, witnessing substance abuse and other forms of abuse at home and enduring peer pressure to join criminal activities on the streets,” he said.
Founder of AYICRIP and convener of the summit, Mr Chris Ibe said the organisation a youth based Non Profit Organisation based on crime prevention and committed to fight against crime through preventive approach.

Ibe advised that Federal Government should concentrate more on prevention of crime because it is cheaper and safer as it will curb loss of lives and properties.
“What we are doing in our organisation is to call on governments to restrategise by embracing prevention through involvement of youths and the communities  as well as dialogue, especially with the Niger Delta avengers to know their grievances before this will escalate into a worse situation,” he concluded.
Another speaker from the University of Lagos, Dr Jake Ekpenem, suggested that there should be advocacy raised from all strata of life to educate the youths on the value of living a drug free life.
He suggested that drug free clubs should also be set up in schools where students will be counseled on how important it is to stay away from drugs in order to be able to realise their future ambition.