It began in June 2012 when the then Commissioner in charge of the Lagos Police Command, Umar Manko, appointed Ngozi Braide as the first ever female Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state.
Before her, Bode Ojajuni and Frank Mba were some of the household names crime reporters and those who dealt with police image makers in the Centre of Excellence readily remembered.
Two men and two women have occupied the seat after Braide’s redeployment in 2014, but it is the members of the fairer sex who have made the job of Lagos PPRO their own in the last four years.
This is their story.
Ngozi Conchita Braide
The Imo-born English graduate of the Lagos State University joined the Police in 1996 as a Cadet Inspector and trained at the Nigerian Police Academy in Kano.
She has attended several professional courses both within and outside Nigeria.
Braide was part of the United Nations Peace Keeping Operation in Liberia in 2006 where she was appointed head of Finance Unit of the United Nations Police in Liberia.
She also served with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) between 1999 and 2003.
While at INTERPOL, she was also attached to Organized Crime Division (OCD).
From 2007, she worked at Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB) and SFU.
While at the SFU, she was attached to Commercial Fraud Unit and later rose to become the Sectional Head of Oil and Gas Fraud Section.
She assumed office as spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command on June 11, 2012 and was redeployed on September 29, 2014 to Zone 2.
In a statement released after handing over as PPRO, she thanked the media and the people of Lagos for their support, saying “I experienced the warmest reception and assistance from you all.”
She was delivered of a baby in the US last year.
Patricia Amadin
Born on March 17, 1978 in Benin City, Edo State, Patricia Idahosa Amadin was the second female PPRO in Lagos.
She was appointed in July 24, 2015 in acting capacity as replacement for Kenneth Nwosu, who was redeployed to Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Amadin attended the Federal Government Girl’s College, Benin City from 1988 to 1993 and the University of Benin between 1997 and 2000 graduating with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics and Economics.
She enlisted into the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano on February 1, 2005.
Before acting as spokesperson, she served in different capacities in the traffic division in Lagos as well as deputy public relations officer.
Speaking during her presentation to the press, Amadin said her appointment as acting PPRO brought her to a familiar terrain, reminding the journalists that her relationship with some of them went back many years.
Her appointment, however, lasted less than two months and she was replaced by Joseph Offor in September 9, 2015.
Dolapo Badmos
The incumbent Lagos PPRO, Dolapo Opeyemi Badmos, is the third woman to occupy the office.
She took over from Joseph Offor on January 13 this year and is the fourth spokesperson to serve under current Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, in less than one year.
Badmus joined the force on August 15, 2002, as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (Course 21 Batch) and trained at Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.
She served in different capacities including Traffic Officer (DTO), Alakuko and Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Isokoko, Agege, both in Lagos before her present appointment, which was announced on January 8.
Badmos is married to a fellow police officer and has children.
Extra
The police top brass in Abuja have taken a cue from Lagos with the appointment of Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Olabisi Kolawole as the first female Force Police Relations Officer (FPRO) in August 2015.
Kolawole is also a graduate of Nigeria Police Academy.
She studied Law in Ogun State University and graduated with Bachelor of Law degree (LL.B) in 2000. She graduated from the Nigeria Law School where she obtained a (BL) degree and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002. She attended University of Leicester, United Kingdom where she obtained a Masters degree in Police Leadership and Management (PLM).
Until her appointment as the FPRO, Kolawole was the Deputy Director of the Directorate of Peacekeeping and the Police Force Gender Adviser.
She is happily married with children.
Her hobbies include reading and travelling.
She is an avid table tennis lover.
