The Institute of Security Nigeria (ISN) has called on the academic community and security professionals to work together by re-examining and re-evaluating the security threats and risks facing the nation’s security architecture.
Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the President of the institute said this at its 15th international security conference 2023 in Lagos, with the theme: ‘National Security Environment and Challenges; Enhancing Security Services for Sustainable Development’.
He said such collaboration would help in examining threats to the environment and consequently determine the level of challenges and solutions.
According to him, security professionals and practitioners provide security and protection services with the aid of their God-given expertise and skills which remained the major tools.
“It is worrisome though that we still face security challenges as professionals, where a few among us have by their misconduct, brought disdain and disrespect to the profession,” he said.
Ogundipe, the immediate-past vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos, noted that such development remained a grave concern to the security professionals and the country.
He said it is proper to hold the view that those instances of professional misconduct do not represent all the security professionals and experts in the nation.
In his remarks, the Deputy President, Mr. Adebayo Akinade, noted that the conference represented a milestone in the institute’s effort to create awareness among members of the public and law enforcement agencies.
He said one of the objectives of the institute is to promote and develop security science, technology and practice in all its ramifications.
He added that it also conducts research, and collects and disseminates information on security subjects among others.
The deputy president added that there was a need to search for the remote and immediate causes of security challenges, security architecture, and another breakdown in the social fabric of the society.
“There is the need to reflect on the policies which can be put in place to correct these anomalies and restore the lost order in our communities and societies.
“It is only when this order is restored that progress can be made to improve the decayed social standard and in the security trends in the nation.”
Prince Olu Bajowa, the Chairman of the occasion said that the country’s nascent democratic experiment was still occurring with tremendous challenges, saying the country cannot remain impervious to the overriding task of democratic consolidations, which must be anchored on the rule and supremacy of the law.
Group Captain John Ojikutu, a security expert also urged the conference not to fail to recognize and identify the disparities affecting both the low and the high in the country, which, over the years, has contributed to the insecurity, which has put citizens into penury more than it had put perpetrators into correctional homes.
In his goodwill message, the AIG (DR) Hassan Bala (Rtd), said that the conference must strive to lay a foundation of highly qualitative discussion arising from a rich blend of ideas and perspectives.
“It is worrisome to note that we are in a country whose security agencies cannot effectively protect its citizens from rampaging marauders, kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and organized killers as experienced in recent times.
“The security apparatus has to be reformed and state policing formalized. There should be an effective strategy.
“This conference should seek to ensure that its recommendations to the federal government cover all activities and programmes which could be implemented and effectively coordinated for the attainment of national security.’
The high point of the event was the award of distinguished fellowship to eight persons, while 26 professionals were awarded the professional fellowship.
