L-R: DCP Oki Rita Oyintare, DC Force Gender Unit, Representative of the IGP, AIG Mohammed Dankwara and Mr. Chinedum Ikogwe, Executive Director, Centre for Family Peace, during the Inauguration of the Steering Committee for the Implementation and Execution of the Annual Inspector-General of Police Conference on Juvenile Crime Prevention and Control Project at the Force CID Headquarters in Abuja recently, the event banner
By Richard Otega Enyeh
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the Centre for Family Peace (CFFP) have finalised plans to checkmate the devastating effects of crimes and offences perpetrated by young people, including teenagers, across communities in the country.
The initiative was given teeth on Friday in Abuja with the setting up of a Steering Committee to carry out the Annual Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Conference on Juvenile Crime Prevention and Control Project.
In his inaugural speech at the occasion, IGP Kayode Egbetokun emphasized the imperative for a holistic approach and joint efforts and resolve to addressing the sociological and immediate triggers of behavioural challenges of young people in the country.
Ably represented by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Mohamed Dankwara, Egbetokun averred that the official inauguration ceremony signposts the beginning of the execution of the new Conference Project geared towards preventing juvenile crime and fostering the positive development of young people in Nigeria.
“To deliver this Conference Project in Nigerian society, there will be a need for collaboration with different extra-familial institutions like government at all levels and their agencies, the church, the school, and the media. So, I implore you all, as members of this Steering Committee, to ensure that you take this assignment very seriously, so as to deliver positive outcomes that will help to arrest the ugly trend of juvenile crime in our country.
“To this end, I must say that this assignment requires utmost commitment from each of you to work together towards achieving a common goal—the goal of helping parents instil positive values in their young children,” he said.
In his view, the Conference Project is fashioned to be held annually across all states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), imploring the state governments to host the conference in their respective domains particularly those with a high risk of juvenile offence incidents.
“I charge you to get your act together and ensure that you deliver the very important Conference Project to Nigeria for the benefit of families and children of our country before the end of the first quarter of the year 2025,” he added.
In his own take, Executive Director of the Centre for Family Peace, Chinedum Ikogwe, who bemoaned the level of neglect of families across the country, stated that the country will have a national policy on juvenile crime prevention and juvenile counselling centres in public schools after the conference.
He added: “You will agree with me that there is a serious issue in our society because the family is neglected. In the Western world, family is the key. In Nigeria, we don’t talk much about the children, the family. So, this program is going to bring the debate on our children.”
