Odita Sunday
In a rare iconic event, former Inspector-General of Police, Mike Mbama Okiro on Friday unveiled a new ultra modern conference centre named after his colleague and immediate past IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
The historic edifice was built by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Olohundare Jimoh Moshood.
The ceremony attracted senior police officers, diplomats, traditional rulers, retired security chiefs and other prominent stakeholders in Lagos.
The project, commissioned sitting on the command headquarters, was named after former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in recognition of his contributions to policing reforms and institutional development within the Force.
The event marked another major infrastructure milestone for the Zone 2 Police Command under the leadership of Assistant Inspector General of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, a cop well known for his dogged crime fighting and police infrastructure developmental strides.
Addressing guests at the ceremony, Jimoh described the facility as a strategic investment aimed at improving operational coordination, administrative efficiency and professional engagement within the command structure.
He said the conference centre represents a new phase in the drive to modernise policing operations and strengthen institutional capacity across the Lagos command.
According to him, the decision to immortalise Egbetokun through the project was informed by his commitment to transformational leadership and sustained reforms within the police force.
Jimoh noted that the unveiling of the facility was not merely the commissioning of a building, but a celebration of leadership, institutional growth and long term policing development.
The AIG also commended senior officers, stakeholders and members of the public whose support and contributions ensured the successful completion of the project.
In his remarks, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police Operations, Adesina Lawal, described the project as a landmark achievement for the command.
He explained that the facility was designed to enhance personnel welfare, improve administrative effectiveness and provide a conducive environment for strategic policing engagements.
Tijani recalled that the foundation for the project was laid on November 7, 2025, by Egbetokun during his tenure as Inspector General of Police.
He praised the former police chief for championing infrastructure development and supporting reforms targeted at repositioning commands nationwide for greater efficiency.
The police commissioner urged officers and personnel to maintain the facility properly and ensure it continues to reflect professionalism, discipline and dedication to service.
Former Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who formally commissioned the centre, expressed satisfaction at returning to inaugurate the same project whose foundation he personally laid while in office.
Egbetokun described the edifice as a legacy project built on continuity, institutional vision and leadership.
According to him, the conference centre represents more than a physical structure, stressing that it symbolises commitment to excellence and enduring reforms within the Nigeria Police Force.
The former IGP also reflected on his years of service in Lagos, recalling how reorientation programmes introduced during his time in the command contributed to improving police discipline and strengthening public confidence.
He recounted how his disappointment in 2019, when his appointment as Lagos Commissioner of Police was reversed before assumption of office, eventually became a turning point in his career.
Egbetokun said the experience reinforced his belief that setbacks often serve as pathways to greater opportunities and responsibilities.
He advised younger officers to remain committed to professionalism, patience, integrity and hard work, insisting that dedication to service would ultimately produce rewarding outcomes.
The former police chief further expressed optimism that the new conference centre would become a hub for strategic security discussions, innovative policing ideas and professional collaborations capable of strengthening law enforcement in Nigeria.
Several retired senior police officers who attended the ceremony delivered goodwill messages, commending the leadership of the command for sustaining infrastructure growth and institutional reforms.
The event also featured inspection of the facility and the official unveiling of the commemorative plaque amid applause from guests and stakeholders present at the gathering.