PCRC Safe School Initiative: Soun invested as Grand Patron, as PCRC advocates stronger community policing

PCRC Safe School Initiative: Soun invested as Grand Patron, as PCRC advocates stronger community policing

Yinka ADETUNJI

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The Soun of Ogbomosoland His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III has been invested as the Grand Patron of the Safe School Initiative of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

The investiture which took place at the Ogbomoso Security Summit, was held Wednesday at The Great Hall, LAUTECH.

According to a press release by the Special Assistant to the PCRC Lagos state chairman, Comrade Aranju Adeiwa, the body recorded a strong and impactful presence at the Ogbomoso Security Summit, held at the Great Hall of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.

Comrade Adeiwa stated the summit brought together prominent sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, traditional rulers, security professionals, academics, community leaders and other critical stakeholders drawn from the five Local Government Areas within the Ogbomoso geographical configuration.

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He added, the well-attended summit attracted about 50 traditional rulers, including the Soun of Ogbomoso Land, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, alongside distinguished professionals and leaders committed to finding sustainable solutions to the security challenges confronting Ogbomoso and its environs.

Comrade Adeiwa further reports as follows

The keynote address was delivered by the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Biu, followed by an engaging panel discussion featuring former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni; Professor Emmanuel Aiyede; retired AIG Adisa Bolanta; and Ambassador Akin Oyateru, who examined various dimensions of community security and the way forward.

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PCRC invited to present the community security perspective

At a significant point in the summit, the national chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, who was represented by the PCRC Lagos state chairman, Apostle Kehinde A. Showemimo, was invited to present the PCRC perspective on community security and the critical role of community participation in building safer societies.

The PCRC delegation, comprising about 20 members, also included the PCRC Zone 7 chairman, Otunba Bolaji Adigun, a veteran PCRC leader and illustrious son of Ogbomoso, and his wife, alongside other PCRC representatives.

Apostle Showemimo’s intervention became one of the major highlights of the summit.

Although he had prepared a comprehensive 22-page presentation, the Lagos state PCRC chairman effectively distilled the major issues raised throughout the summit and delivered the substance of his paper in approximately 10 minutes, providing a concise, practical and compelling PCRC perspective on the security challenges confronting Ogbomoso.

‘Strengthen PCRC at all levels’

In his presentation, Apostle Showemimo emphasised that for the security conversation in Ogbomoso to translate into sustainable action, the community must strengthen and reposition the Police Community Relations Committee at all levels.

He explained that PCRC represents community policing in practical terms, providing a structured platform through which the Police and the communities they serve can communicate, collaborate, share information, build trust and jointly address security concerns.

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He stressed that security cannot be achieved by the Police and other security agencies alone, but requires an organised, informed and responsible community partnership.

PCRC and the safe school initiative

Apostle Showemimo also drew particular attention to the Safe School Initiative of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, being implemented in collaboration with PCRC and other relevant stakeholders across the country.

Showemimo (left) with Adigun

Using practical illustrations, he demonstrated how effective community participation can support the protection of schools, students, teachers and educational facilities.

He challenged Ogbomoso to develop a strong and viable Safe School support structure, anchored on effective community participation and collaboration with the Police and other security agencies.

According to the PCRC Lagos state chairman, a well-organised Safe School structure in Ogbomoso could become a significant component of the community’s response to insecurity within and around its educational institutions.

Honour for the Soun of Ogbomoso

In a symbolic demonstration of community partnership and support for the Safe School Initiative, Apostle Showemimo decorated His Imperial Majesty, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, as the Grand Patron of the Safe School Programme in Ogbomosoland.

The gesture was warmly received and attracted enthusiastic applause from participants and dignitaries at the summit.

The honour further underscored the important role of traditional institutions in mobilising communities, supporting security initiatives and providing leadership for collective action.

A strong PCRC message for Ogbomoso

The Ogbomoso Security Summit provided a significant platform for stakeholders to examine the security challenges confronting the community and explore practical, community-driven solutions.

The participation of PCRC brought a distinctive and practical perspective to the summit: security must not be left exclusively to security agencies; communities must become organised partners in their own safety.

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The PCRC delegation’s contribution reinforced the committee’s national mandate of bridging the gap between the Police and the communities they serve, while promoting mutual understanding, information sharing, trust and collaborative crime prevention.

The enthusiastic response to Apostle Showemimo’s presentation further demonstrated the relevance of the PCRC community-policing model to contemporary security challenges.

The summit ended with a renewed call for stronger collaboration among traditional institutions, security agencies, government, educational institutions, community organisations and citizens, with PCRC positioned as a critical bridge between the Police and the communities.

For Ogbomoso, the message was clear:

A safer community requires an organised community—and a strong PCRC must be at the heart of that partnership.