The Police Service Commission has called for the reactivation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) earlier signed between the Police Authorities and the University of Jos in the area of training and research.
A statement issued by the University’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, Abdulahi Abdullahi indicates that Police Officers who undertake Leadership course at the Police Staff College, Jos will further enroll for a three to six months Diploma programme at the University of Jos to enable them obtain the requisite Academic certification.
The statement further revealed that the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Dr Solomon Arase made the call when Management of the University of Jos led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at Jabi, Abuja.
Dr Solomon Arase, who was the 18th Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police Force said policing in Nigeria has now become knowledge-based in line international best practices unlike what was obtainable during the colonial era where the Police relied more on aggressive tactics.
He further explained that the Commission’s mandate includes facilitating capacity building for Personnel and would therefore consider further collaboration with the University by inviting Resource Persons from the institution to train the officers on a variety of contemporary methodologies.
Speaking, Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Professor Tanko Ishaya congratulated Dr Solomon Arase over his appointment as Chairman, Police Service Commission and explained that the visit was to develop a robust partnership with the Commission in several areas including capacity building for Police Personnel where experts in various disciplines would provide training templates for the officers.
The Vice-Chancellor commended Dr Arase for visiting the University on the eve of his retirement from the Police Force in April 2016 to deliver a public lecture and expressed hope that he would accept similar invitation to visit the institution soon.
The University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Joash Amupitan, and Registrar of the institution, Dr Rejoice Songden both noted that the Police Service Commission has much to benefit from the University given the wide range of Training and Research opportunities the institution has to offer to the Police as an organization.
They expressed profound gratitude for the role that the former IGP played in securing approval for the establishment of a Police Outpost within the University community to address security challenges around the locality.
Highpoint of the occasion, according to the statement posted on the Alumni Telegram platform, was the presentation of books authored and donated by the Dr Arase to the University.