LSSTF Training Model Deserves National Adoption, Says Security Expert as Ogunsan Pledges Continuous Capacity Building
A security expert, Professor Oka Martin Obono, has described the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF)'s Statewide Inter-Agency Training Programme for Security Operatives as a model worthy of adoption across Nigeria, while the Fund's Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining monthly capacity-building programmes for security personnel in Lagos State.
A security expert, Professor Oka Martin Obono, has called for the nationwide adoption of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF)'s inter-agency training model, describing it as a strategic investment in the human capital needed to address Nigeria's evolving security challenges.
Obono made the remarks at the conclusion of the fifth edition of the LSSTF's two-day Statewide Inter-Agency Training Programme for Security Operatives, held from July 15 to 16, 2026, in Lagos.
The programme brought together personnel from various security and emergency response agencies across the state for intensive training focused on capacity building, professionalism, emotional intelligence, financial literacy and inter-agency collaboration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the LSSTF, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, said human capital development would remain a key priority of his administration, stressing that effective security depends not only on equipment but also on well-trained personnel.
According to him, the monthly training initiative was conceived after reviewing the agency's statutory responsibilities and identifying the need to complement logistics support with sustained investment in personnel development.
"I saw that we were providing logistics and equipment, but I asked myself, 'Where are the people?' That conviction gave birth to this monthly training programme because investing in people must never be secondary," Ogunsan said.
He assured participants that the initiative would continue throughout his tenure, noting that every month would feature a structured training programme for security operatives in Lagos State.
Ogunsan also encouraged participants to maximise the opportunity by learning from experienced professionals and building lasting networks that would enhance operational effectiveness.
At the closing ceremony, Professor Obono emphasised that emotional intelligence has become an indispensable skill for modern law enforcement officers who regularly operate under high-pressure and high-risk conditions.
He said security personnel must possess the self-awareness and emotional discipline required to manage stressful situations while interacting professionally with members of the public.
"Not everyone on the street is a criminal. Security personnel must be equipped to protect and serve the public with professionalism while maintaining operational effectiveness. When citizens see men and women in uniform, they should feel confidence, not fear," he said.
Obono also highlighted financial literacy as an essential component of personnel welfare, noting that prudent financial management would help officers achieve long-term financial stability, particularly after retirement.
Describing the LSSTF initiative as a best-practice model, the professor urged state governments across the country to institutionalise similar programmes for security agencies.
He said continuous training should be expanded and sustained, arguing that security challenges require constant learning and regular assessment of the needs of security personnel to guide future investments.
The programme concluded with the presentation of certificates to participants drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos Taskforce, Force CID Annex Alagbon, Marine Police, Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Man O' War Nigeria, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), and other security and emergency management agencies.
The LSSTF said the initiative forms part of its broader strategy to build a professional, intelligence-driven and collaborative security architecture capable of responding effectively to the security needs of Lagos State.
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