Academy Launches Strategic Lecture Series for Regular Course 8 Cadets, Tasks Trainees on Command, Community Policing.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Northern Bureau Chief
August 30, 2026
WUDIL, KANO — In a major step towards strengthening professional policing and preparing a new generation of officers for the increasingly complex security environment in Nigeria, the Nigeria Police Academy (POLAC), Wudil, has inaugurated a Strategic Lecture Series for cadets of Regular Course 8.
The initiative, according to the Academy, is designed to bridge the often-discussed gap between academic learning and the realities of operational policing by exposing cadets to the experiences, lessons and professional insights of seasoned security practitioners.
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The strategic lecture series is also being positioned as part of the Academy’s broader efforts to strengthen leadership development, professional competence and strategic thinking among future officers of the Nigeria Police Force.
The initiative reflects the vision of the 23rd Indigenous Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, who has consistently advocated the modernization of police education and training as a critical component of effective policing in contemporary Nigeria.
At the Academy level, the programme is being driven by the 25th Commandant of POLAC, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad, Anipr, Mspsp, Psc, who has emphasized the importance of connecting classroom instruction with practical experiences from officers who have operated at various levels of the security architecture. Inauguration session featured a comprehensive presentation by CP Ali Audu Dabigi, PSC (Retired), a highly experienced former police officer whose career spans several critical operational and command positions.
Dabigi brought to the lecture decades of practical experience in policing, command and security management, offering the cadets firsthand perspectives on some of the realities they are likely to encounter when they eventually assume responsibilities as police officers.
During his distinguished career, he served as a Squadron Commander in various formations of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force and was the pioneer Commandant of the Police Mobile Force Training School at Ende-Hills.
He also served as Commandant of the Police Mobile Force in Ila-Orangun and rose to the position of Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State. Currently, he serves as the Commander of the Kaduna State Vigilante Service (KADVS), further broadening his experience in community-based security and contemporary approaches to crime prevention.
His presentation exposed the cadets to critical dimensions of command leadership, community policing and the management of contemporary security challenges, providing practical lessons that complement their formal academic training.
Speaking at the event, the Commandant of the Academy, AIG Auwal Musa Muhammad, expressed appreciation to the guest speaker for accepting the invitation and sharing his wealth of professional knowledge with the cadets.
The Commandant stressed that interaction with distinguished senior officers and experienced practitioners was essential to developing the character, strategic mindset and professional skills required of future police leaders.
He noted that police education must go beyond textbooks and theoretical instruction, particularly at a time when security challenges are becoming more sophisticated and increasingly require officers to demonstrate sound judgment, leadership, professionalism and a strong understanding of the communities they serve.
The lecture therefore provided the cadets with an opportunity to learn directly from an officer whose career has covered tactical operations, police training, command responsibilities and community security.
Preparing Officers for Emerging Security Threats
The development comes at a time when Nigeria’s security landscape continues to demand greater professionalism, intelligence-driven policing, community engagement and effective leadership from security personnel. For the cadets of Regular Course 8, the strategic lecture series is expected to complement their academic and practical training by exposing them to real-world experiences and the decision-making demands associated with police command.
Beyond the acquisition of technical policing skills, programmes of this nature are important in shaping the values and professional outlook of officers before they are deployed into the field.
Effective policing increasingly requires officers who can balance enforcement with community engagement, understand emerging security threats, exercise sound judgment and operate within the principles of professionalism and respect for the rule of law.
The Academy’s initiative is therefore expected to contribute to producing officers capable of responding to modern security challenges while maintaining public confidence in the police institution. Plaque Presented to Guest Speaker
The event concluded with a formal group photograph involving the POLAC management team, senior police officers, cadets and the guest speaker.
In recognition of his contribution to the development of the cadets and his lifelong commitment to national security, the Commandant presented CP Ali Audu Dabigi (Retired) with a commemorative souvenir plaque.
The gesture, according to the Academy, was an expression of appreciation for the retired senior officer’s service to the nation and his willingness to share his professional experience with officers preparing to take on future responsibilities.
The inauguration of the Strategic Lecture Series signals the Academy’s determination to deepen the relationship between professional experience and academic police education.
As Regular Course 8 cadets continue their training, the programme is expected to provide them with additional exposure to the realities of policing and security management, reinforcing the broader objective of producing disciplined, competent and strategically minded police officers for the country.
The initiative also underscores the importance of institutional mentorship and the transfer of professional knowledge from experienced officers to the next generation of police leaders.
With the Nigeria Police Force confronting increasingly complex security challenges, stakeholders believe that strengthening the quality of police education and leadership preparation remains central to building a more responsive, professional and effective policing institution.
Suggested front-page treatment.
(Democracy Newsline Newspaper, August 30, 2026)
