The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, attended the public presentation and launch of a book documenting the history of women in the Nigeria Police Force.
The book, “The Origin of Police Women in Nigeria: The Story of the Pioneer Women Officers and My Journey in the Nigeria Police Force (1955–1996)”, was authored by Dame Stella O. Okuyiga, DCP (rtd), one of the first 20 women to join the Force in 1955.
The launch, which held at the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, had the IGP as Chief Launcher. Disu described the publication as a vital contribution to preserving the institutional history of the Force.
According to him, the book celebrates the courage, resilience and service of pioneer women officers who opened the policing profession to generations of Nigerian women and paved the way for greater inclusion.
The IGP stressed the need for a Police Force that reflects and understands the diverse communities it serves, noting that women have continued to excel in criminal investigation, intelligence, tactical operations, specialist policing and strategic leadership.
He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to merit-based advancement and equal professional opportunities, while recalling his earlier engagement with Dame Okuyiga during his tenure as Rivers State Commissioner of Police when she shared her desire to update the book.
In her response, Dame Okuyiga thanked the IGP and the Force for supporting the publication, saying its availability in Police libraries and training institutions would ensure that the sacrifices of pioneer policewomen continue to inspire future generations.
