She’s a lawyer, she adores Oprah Winfrey… Enter Nigeria’s first female police PRO

Olabisi Alofe-Kolawole is the first female force public relations officer (FPRO) of the Nigeria Police Force following her appointment on Friday by Solomon Arase, the inspector general of police.

The law graduate succeeds Emmanuel Ojukwu, who is now the commissioner of police in Kogi state.

Alofe-Kolawole, who advises the police on gender issues, lists one of her role models as Oprah Winfrey, the American TV celebrity who is the first known black female billionaire. Like her idol, Alofe-Kolawole has now scored a first.

She also enjoys the music of Korede Bello, Lara George, Beyonce and Don Moen, but will now have to dance to the tune of the ever critical Nigerian public, which is less-than-satisfied with the performance of the police.

But, most importantly, the assistant commissioner of police now has to polish or project the image of the police, a job considered one of the most difficult in Nigeria, if not in the world.

According to Abayomi Shogunle, deputy police spokesperson, “the appointment is geared towards harnessing the enormous potentials among Nigerian female police officers”.

Alofe-Kolawole has a degree in law from Ogun State University and a master’s in police leadership and management from University of Leicester, UK.

“The new FPRO has served in various capacities both at national and international level. She was the force gender adviser before her recent posting,” Shogunle said.

Also, Arase has appointed Idowu Owohunwa, assistant commissioner of police, as principal staff officer (PSO) to inspector general of police.

“The new PSO who has a bachelors degree in international studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as well as a masters degree in criminal justice and policing from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom has served the Nigeria police in diverse capacities, such as staff officer to the 2006 Alh Dan Madami-Chaired Presidential Committee on Nigeria Police Reforms, Divisional Crime officer National Assembly Complex Police Division Abuja,” the deputy police spokesperson said.

“He was pioneer head of the Intelligence Analysis Unit of the Force Intelligence Bureau. Ag. ACP Owohunwa takes over from CP Austin Iwar who is now the Commissioner of Police, Gombe State Command. Before his appointment as PSO Ag. ACP Owohunwa was the Personal Assistant (PA) to the current IGP.”