At 96, Mama Stella is writing herself into police history

Lanre Olagunju 

At 96, Dame Stella Obuoforibo Okuyiga has found a way to outlive herself. Not through science or medicine, but through her book.

At the launch of The Origin of Police Women in Nigeria: The Story of the Pioneer Women Officers and My Journey in the Nigeria Police Force, the retired Deputy Commissioner of Police expressed excitement at the thought of her book living on in libraries across the world. Even when she is gone, she hopes her story will continue to speak.

On October 13, in Port Harcourt, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu joined her in preserving that history. His presence as chief launcher was more than a gesture of respect. It was an opportunity for the Nigeria Police Force to confront a fundamental question: how well does an institution remember those who made its progress possible?

In 1955, the first 20 women joined the Force at a time when policing offered women limited opportunities. They entered unfamiliar territory, confronting barriers that their male counterparts did not have to navigate in the same way. Their commitment, courage and professional dedication helped establish a place for women in an institution that had yet to fully recognise their potential.

Dame Stella was among those trailblazers. Her career spanned operational duties, leadership and the administration of justice, helping expand women’s place in the Force. Today, women serve in investigations, intelligence, tactical operations and strategic leadership, but that progress rests on the courage of those who came first.

A police force that forgets its pioneers risks mistaking hard-won progress for something that happened by chance.

This is what made the book’s launch timing particularly significant. Disu deliberately chose the week of the International Day of the Girl Child, observed on October 11, to celebrate one of the Force’s foremost surviving female pioneers.

In his address, Disu described the occasion as a celebration of courage, service and the women who helped shape the Force. He also stressed that professional advancement must rest on merit, competence and dedication.

When Disu was Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, he met Mama, who already had a book she wanted to update and launch. Whenever he asked when the launch would take place, she would smile and tell him she would launch it when her son became Inspector-General of Police.

She said “when”, not “if”.

Years later, Disu returned to keep that appointment. Beyond the personal bond, the gesture carried an institutional message: retirement should not erase a police officer’s contribution or render their service invisible.

But recognition must go beyond a successful ceremony.

In his review of the book, Setechi Eli, a senior lecturer at Rivers State University, argued that Mama’s account should serve as more than a historical memoir. He recommended it as a resource for professional training and public service, including possible use in secondary schools.

His review also raised important questions about gaps in the historical record, particularly the experiences of women officers between 1960 and 1973. These deserve attention in future editions. He further called for higher national recognition for Mama and the pioneer women, including those who have died.

The police should not relegate these recommendations to the pages of a review. The Force can begin by acquiring copies for its colleges, libraries and training institutions, as Disu urged at the launch. Relevant authorities should also examine the case for formally recognising the pioneers’ contributions.

More importantly, the book must become a tool for institutional learning.

Mama’s story champions merit over prejudice, discipline with empathy and continuous learning, all essential to professional policing and public trust. Disu also highlighted her belief that national security begins at home, with families instilling values, communities supporting the law and the police working with both.

The book’s significance extends beyond police history. It reminds us that institutions must preserve the sacrifices of their pioneers and pass their lessons to future generations.

The IGP has honoured a living legend. But the true measure of this recognition lies in whether the book is read, its recommendations implemented, and the pioneering women remembered beyond ceremonies.

At 96, Mama has entrusted her story to the future. Now, the Force must prove that it will not forget the women who helped build it.

Lanre Olagunju writes from Abuja.