The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has inaugurated a mental health awareness and coaching workshop for officers of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen their emotional resilience, professional judgment and operational effectiveness.
This was revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu.
The workshop, held in Abuja, was coordinated by the Department of Training and Development in partnership with Awesome Valley Consult Ltd and the Directorate of Force Medical Services.
Disu, who was represented by the Force Medical Director, AIG Nkechi Eze, emphasised the importance of identifying mental health concerns early, providing timely intervention and referring affected personnel for professional care.
He noted that the demanding nature of police duties requires effective coping strategies and accessible support systems that allow officers to seek assistance without fear of stigmatisation.
The IGP stressed that recognising signs of stress, burnout and emotional distress in oneself and colleagues was essential to maintaining a healthy workforce and ensuring effective service delivery.
The lead facilitator, Maimuna Ummi Abdullahi, popularly known as Coach Diddi, who is a mental health and emotional resilience coach and Team Lead of Awesome Valley Consult Ltd, highlighted the importance of coaching for officers regularly exposed to high-pressure and potentially traumatic situations.
She explained that mental health coaching helps improve self-awareness, stress management, emotional resilience and peer support, while encouraging officers to seek professional assistance when necessary.
Abdullahi clarified that coaching complements rather than replaces clinical assessment and treatment, helping personnel recognise when specialised medical care is required.
More than 100 officers from the Counter Terrorism Unit, Police Mobile Force, Special Protection Unit, Directorate of Force Medical Services, Intelligence Response Team, Special Intervention Squad, Special Tactical Squad and police divisions across the Federal Capital Territory are participating in the workshop.
Senior officers in attendance included CP Aina Adesola, CP L. Ibrahim and CP M. Umar.
Also speaking, DIG Isyaku Mohammed reaffirmed the Department of Training and Development’s commitment to sustained, practical and needs-based training in collaboration with the Directorate of Force Medical Services to improve mental health awareness and connect officers with appropriate support.
The IGP reiterated that personnel welfare remained central to the Force’s commitment to professionalism and effective policing.
He emphasised that officers must be physically fit, mentally resilient and adequately supported to perform their duties effectively.
Disu urged police personnel to prioritise their mental well-being, seek help early when necessary and support colleagues experiencing emotional or psychological difficulties, while maintaining discipline, sound judgment and respect for the public.
