Sir Mike Okiro Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sir Mike Okiro, has vowed that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) would continue to churn out great men and women to assist and sustain sports development in Nigeria.

The IG made this declaration when he unveiled and launched the 2008 Nigeria Police Games’ logo at the Ocean View Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Accoring to him, he took up the campaign on assumption of office in June 2007, to revive the police biennial Games, which has been in coma for eight years, as part of his strategies for meaningful socio-economic development and police-youth-adult collaboration in crime prevention and control through sports.

He said that sports was one of the indices used in measuring social and general development of a nation, stressing that the NPF had not failed in that order as they produced Nigeria’s first and only Olympic individual gold medallist through police officer, Chioma Ajunwa.

“Nigeria Police Games is part of the vision we want to share with the Nigerian people as an avenue for greater information flow from the public to the police.
“In recent times, the Police Games has not been what it used to be as a result of inadequate funding and support.

“With the reviving of the Games, which has brought great sportsmen and women like Olympic gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa, silver medallist, Sunday Bada and World Heavyweight Boxing champion, Samuel Peter, I know that more talents would be disocovered for this great nation.
“I feel fulfilled that under my tenure, the glorious biennial Games of the Nigeria Police Force is rejuvenated and I urge all Nigerians to be part of the spirited efforts to reposition our police for the challenges of tomorrow.”

It’s worthy of note that the police force had contributed in the areas of sports development in Nigeria through the Police Games.
A host of police officers like former Green Eagles’ player, Sunday Oyarekhua, Super Eagles’ player, Julius Aghahowa, Super Falcons’ player, Kikelomo Ajayi, SP Sunday Bada, SP Chioma Ajunwa Okpara and DSP Samuel Peter Okon are all products of the Police Games.