By: Theresa Moses
June 18th is set aside every year to celebrate Father’s Day, a holiday honouring one’s father or relevant father figure, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.
Fathers come in all shapes and sizes. They are executives and construction workers, surgeons, police officers, policy advisers, chefs, teachers, musicians, mechanics, journalists, etc.
Whether it’s civil unrest, labour strikes, huge sporting events, or rallies, law enforcement officers form a critical part of our lives, woven into the everyday fabric, especially living in the city of Lagos, the 4th most populous city in the world and the most populous urban city in Africa.
They keep our neighbourhood safe and help ensure that whatever it is you need to do, you can do it with peace of mind.
Despite controversies and headlines about the policemen, it’s also paramount for citizens to think about all the unselfish work that officers do to help people, appreciate and focus on the positive impact of the force, and make the most of these positive relationships as an integral part of maintaining a positive trajectory for officer morale, enthusiasm, and commitment, as well as overall health, especially in Lagos, with an estimated population of more than 26 million in 2023 and around 30 million for the Lagos metropolitan area.
In commemoration of this year’s Father’s Day, GATMASH NEWS celebrates Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin (mnipr), Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Lagos State Command, and the strength of law enforcement families in Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria as well as Africa. This is to show officers that the media understands how difficult their job is and how much we appreciate their sacrifice and risk to protect lives and property.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin has been dragged with regard to his comments and tweets on social media, and this has generated a lot of positive controversies. He’s accessible to the media 24/7, listens, responds spontaneously, and does so despite his ever-busy schedules, making him a media-friendly PRO. But we forget that an essential element of holistic wellness for police officers is their sense of appreciation for the community they serve.
Also, great respect and trust in them boost their competence and professionalism.
Hundeyin hails from Badagry Local Government Area and holds a BA (Hons) in English Language from the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo and an MSc in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan. Also holds a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
As a young man, he joined the Nigerian Police Force as a cadet assistant superintendent of police. He’s married and has children.
Professionally, belong to several professional associations and bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).
As a young officer, he had been a one-time PPRO at the Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan Lagos, and was a member of the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan (UNAMID) in 2020.
Before his appointment as the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command in March 2022, he was the Administration Officer at the Force Public Relations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Being a parent and a police officer—whether you are a mother or a father—is extremely challenging and requires many family sacrifices.
Most officers are not there to witness the birth of their child, catch them when they fall, whenever and wherever, or teach them the whole dictionary if need be. But unfortunately, many police officers who are fathers miss many birthdays, holidays, and first days of school for their children. This shows how different police officer families are from civilian families.
The media needs to celebrate these courageous men at various duties post-high-risk entries, car stops, arrests, etc., sacrificing time away from their families to protect the citizens.
To all the fathers in the force out there, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, and thank you for your service!
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