Senior officers charged a new generation to build while you serve
By Felix Mbata, Lagos state
A NEW CHAPTER FOR LAGOS POLICING : Friday, 29th May 2026 will be recorded as the day Lagos State Police Command added a new landmark to its history.
On that day, the Command officially unveiled the IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun Conference Hall — a modern, world-class facility that now stands as the nerve centre for strategy, training, and leadership within the Command.
The development signals more than new infrastructure. It represents growth, vision, and continuity. Conceived by AIG Zone 2, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, and built through community partnership with Lekki Free Trade Zone stakeholders, the hall was delivered without federal budget allocation. Its foundation was laid on 7th November 2025 by IGP Egbetokun while still in office; six months later, retired, he returned to commission the vision he had set in motion.
This edifice joins the ranks of legacy projects that have defined the Command over the years — from IGP Mike Okiro’s chapel and OPC in the early 2000s, to today’s conference centre. Each generation leaving its mark, each leader proving that service is not measured only by duty posts, but by the value added to the institution.
As dignitaries gathered — serving and retired officers, government representatives, the Armed Forces, and community stakeholders — one message echoed through every speech: When you build for others, your name is written in stone.
What follows is a compendium of those speeches. Refined for flow, faithful to intent. Let the voices of the day speak.
SETTING THE STAGE: A MILESTONE FOR POLICING
DCP Operation LAWAL ADESHINA, For CP Lagos Command CP Tijani Olaiwola Fatai
DCP Operation Lawal Adeshina opened the ceremony with gratitude and context, speaking on behalf of the Commissioner. He told the gathering that the day marked “another significant milestone in the history of this Command” as they witnessed the completion of an edifice designed to serve as “a hub for strategic meetings, capacity building, and administrative functions aimed at enhancing effective policing and service delivery.”
He reminded everyone that the foundation was laid by IGP Egbetokun on 7th November 2025, and that naming the centre after him reflected “our appreciation for his visionary leadership.” He then singled out AIG Jimoh for initiating and supervising the project, while also expressing appreciation to the former IGP for his continued commitment to strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force.
BUILT BY COMMUNITY, DRIVEN BY VISION
AIG ZONE 2, AIG OLOHUNDARE MOSHOOD JIMOH
From context, the ceremony moved to conviction. AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, the host and architect of the project, stood to honour his former boss. “This event is not just about commissioning a physical structure,” he said. “It is the celebration of visionary leadership with uncommon dedication that brought massive institutional growth, reform, and strategic policy development whose legacy will stand the test of time.”
Jimoh described the hall as “a symbol of progress, innovation, and unwavering commitment to capacity building,” stressing that naming it after Egbetokun was “highly deserving and symbolic.” He revealed how Lekki Free Trade Zone partners pledged “world-class interior” and delivered it, turning the facility into a space for “strategic engagement, operational planning, intelligence sharing, and training.” His charge was direct: “Let us be inspired to continue contributing our quota towards building a safer, more secure, and peaceful society.” He ended by appreciating Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for “massive and unending support to Lagos Command.”
BE CHANGE MAKERS, NOT JUST OFFICE HOLDERS
FLAG OFFICER COMMANDING WESTERN NAVAL COMMAND, REAR ADMIRAL A.A. MUSTAPHA
The tone shifted when Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha mounted the podium. Referencing Okiro’s earlier point about legacy, he told officers: “In the Armed Forces, Police and security agencies we don’t have enough resources. Since resources are limited, we must be change makers.”
His message was practical: “Wherever you find yourself, if you can look at the environment and add value, it will improve society.” He framed personnel welfare as the “critical pillar of command” and urged officers to use their opportunity to enrich the institution, not themselves. “Just as IGP Rtd Mike Okiro said, he utilized his opportunity to enrich himself by constructing the officers’ mess,” he noted, before congratulating Egbetokun because “he deserves it.”
YOUR NAME IS NOW WRITTEN IN GOLD
CP (RTD) FATAI OWOSENI
CP Fatai Owoseni, retired, brought emotion to the hall. He explained he came because “AIG Jimoh told me they are naming the conference centre after retired IGP Dr. Egbetokun. He was my boss. Dr. Egbetokun served the Force diligently. He gave his best and he deserves this moment.”
Then came the line that drew applause: “Today your name is written in gold. Today your name is being engraved on stone for generations to come. So congratulations.” Owoseni, who has been part of the Command since 1992, admitted he was moved by what Jimoh achieved. “I was wondering where you got this edifice. I am really impressed,” he said, thanking Jimoh for the initiative and for honouring their former boss.
A CORE PROFESSIONAL WORTHY OF HONOUR
LAGOS STATE CHIEF OF STAFF, MR. TAYO AYINDE
Lagos State Chief of Staff, Mr. Tayo Ayinde, spoke next with the authority of history. He recalled knowing Egbetokun “about 27 to 28 years ago when he was Chief Security Officer to our amiable President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, then Governor.” He described him as “a core professional police officer” during their Government House days.
Ayinde announced that Lagos State was already planning “a send-forth dinner” to honour the retired IGP the way they honoured the current one. “You deserve the honour. Being an exemplary leader, there is nothing we can do to honour you than this and to tell the whole world that you are a true, honest and trustworthy police officer,” he said, before praising Jimoh for the gesture.
LEGACY IS BUILT WHILE YOU ARE ALIVE
IGP (RTD) MIKE OKIRO
Then came the charge that defined the day. IGP Mike Okiro, retired, dismantled Shakespeare with one sentence: “Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar said ‘the evil that men do lives after them.’ Today we know it is false. Recognizing what somebody has done while he is alive and celebrating him while he is alive — we will not wait until you die before we celebrate you.”
He explained that the hall was “a legacy in the sense that it was not done on police budget, neither was it done with police money. It is personal contribution by somebody’s initiative.” Drawing from his own history, he reminded the audience: “I sat on that ground even as an ASP, one star. Oyigbo Police Station was my making. In Lagos I built a chapel, a mosque, the police officers’ mess, and the press house called OPC.”
His giveaway was simple: “The essence of life is making an impact. Have a legacy.” He recounted how the officers’ mess started with cement and sand from members until the Governor’s support completed it. “You can see I didn’t put kobo of my money into it. What I am saying now is that you are not too big to make contribution.”
MORE THAN BRICK AND MORTAR: A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
IGP (RTD) OLUKAYODE ADEOLU EGBETOKUN
At last, the celebrant spoke. IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, retired, said he was “super excited” to return to commission what he had laid the foundation for. “I felt especially honoured to be the one who laid the foundation as IGP then, and now to commission it as retired IGP,” he said.
His gratitude went to Jimoh: “My profound appreciation goes to the man whose vision it was… He initiated the idea, put it into action, personally supervised the construction to completion.” He described the centre as “more than a conference centre. It represents vision, it represents continuity, it represents leadership and it represents legacy of all officers who have served in this Command.”
To younger officers, his charge was clear: “Dedication to duty, patience, perseverance and integrity will never go unrewarded. The reward might not come when you expect it, but service rendered with honour will always leave its remark.” He closed with hope: “My sincere hope is that this conference centre will become a place where great ideas are born, where courageous decisions are taken, and where the future of professional policing in Nigeria will continually be strengthened.”
START ADDING VALUE FROM DCO, DPO LEVEL
AIG (RTD) DORUSUMI
AIG Dorusumi, retired, had the final word. She commended Jimoh and then spoke directly to junior officers: “You don’t have to become AIG or Commissioner of Police before you add value to where you are. When I was DPO Ebute Ero, I built the building standing there. When you get to Adeniji Adele there are some marks you will see with my name.”
His advice cut through rank: “Start from when you are DCO, DPO and add value to what you met there, so by the time you are leaving there, something to be remembered for is the impact. Don’t wait for Abuja to come and redesign your office. Nigerians are very appreciative people, they are ready to support.” He ended with faith: “With God upon you all things are possible.”
CONCLUSION: LEGACY WRITTEN IN STONE
From DCP Lawal’s milestone to Dorunsumi’s charge to DCOs, the message of Friday 29th, May 2026 was consistent: legacy is not about rank, it is about the value you add where you stand.
The IGP Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun Conference Hall now stands as proof. Built without budget, delivered through vision and community partnership, it will train, strategize, and inspire the next generation of officers.