On December 6, 2022, 100 service personnel drawn from the military, para-military, and security services attended a one-day training workshop at the American University of Nigeria (AUN). The officers, drawn from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Air Force, Police, Customs, Immigration, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), and others serving in Adamawa State received training on modern, universally accepted standards of operations in their respective responsibilities at the Robert Pastor's e-Library Auditorium.
The training fulfilled AUN Management's pledge to assist and collaborate with the state-based security agencies to foster mutually beneficial community relationships, cooperation, and security of lives and property in Adamawa State.
The Interim President of AUN, Prof. Attahir Yusuf, welcomed the officers and expressed his pleasure in hosting the course attendees.
"We are a liberal arts university. The liberal arts philosophy, which is essentially American, offers a well-rounded education. All universities are notable by emphasis on teaching, research, and community service; and AUN is not an exception. By teaching we gather information, we process some of the information, and we disseminate the information through classroom interactions and instructions. By research we create the knowledge, and by community service we make a difference in the society, in the nation, and in the whole world at large", he said.
Professor Attahir Yusuf continued: "We have more things in common, that is we as an educational system and, you as defense and security establishments, we are all in community service. You are there to protect the community, to ensure there is no impunity; you are there to let society thrive. That is also what we do, and that is why I'm pleased that we have established a close relationship. When it comes to security, in particular, the American University of Nigeria is also somewhere on that horizon; we take it very seriously, especially given the fact of the situation that is now prevailing in our country."
The program, well anchored by the Chief Security Officer of AUN, Mrs. Olayide Babalola Ezekiel, has three renowned professors as facilitators.
Assistant Professor of Law and Director, AUN Center for Governance, Human Rights and Development, Dr. Jennifer Mike Heaven gave a lecture on humanitarian law as it relates to the enforcers of rules. In a paper titled "The Role of Law Enforcement Officers and Security in the Respect and Protection of Human Rights," she lamented the manner the law enforcers sometimes maltreat suspects in the course of arrests and investigations. She argued that no matter the offense or crime committed by any person or suspect, the law requires the accused to be assumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction and that such a suspect should be treated humanely in compliance with the Human Rights Laws of the land.
She also cautioned against unguided words that pass judgment before trials, insisting that law enforcers should act more morally and professionally in carrying out their constitutional duties just as practiced by other civilized climes.
Professor of Business and Strategic Management and Chair, AUN School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE), Dr. Hassan Yusuf, delivered a highly classified lecture on "Strategic Management for Security Personnel."
The Vice-President of the Safety and Security Department, and Director of the AUN Center for Conflict Analysis, Early Warning and Peace Building, Dr. Lionel Rawlins Von-Fredrick, also delivered a lecture titled "Non-enforcement of Laws, Effects and Consequences" and "Critical Thinking: An Introduction."
Heads of security agencies who attended the training expressed their appreciation and promised to apply the knowledge and retrain their personnel when they get to their bases.
Reported by John Abah