‘Protect your mind first’ – AIG Jimoh speaks on Mental Health after receiving PPUGI Award

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Olorundare Moshood Jimoh has called on police officers across Nigeria to prioritise their mental health and overall well-being, stressing that officers cannot effectively protect the public without first taking care of themselves.

Jimoh appealed after receiving the prestigious Peace, Progress and Unity Global Initiative (PPUGI) Award during a courtesy visit by the organisation to the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos.

The award recognised the AIG’s leadership, professionalism and commitment to effective policing, while also highlighting the importance of mental health awareness among law enforcement personnel.

PPUGI honours AIG Jimoh for leadership

Speaking during the presentation, PPUGI Global President, Mrs Farida Olayinka, commended AIG Jimoh for his exemplary leadership and applauded police officers for their sacrifices in safeguarding lives and property across the country.

She noted that the public often overlooks the personal sacrifices officers make in the line of duty.

“A lot of people take it for granted on a daily basis. But we stand out among that lot of people to say we appreciate, we celebrate, and we are grateful for the good work that you are doing,” Olayinka said.

Mrs Olayinka explained that PPUGI has spent the last seven years championing men’s mental health awareness, particularly among security personnel who routinely face high-pressure situations.

Describing herself as one of only two women globally advocating specifically for men’s mental health, she stressed that emotional wellness directly impacts how individuals interact with society.

“If a man is mentally sane, if a man is mentally all right, he attends to the situation around him with peace. So, a man who lacks peace is a man that can always and will always be cruel to others around him,” she said.

As part of the campaign, the organisation presented officers with personalised mental health messages reminding them that their well-being matters.

Each card read: “Dear officer, you are important. You are strong enough to serve, brave enough to speak, and backed enough to heal. Protecting others starts with protecting your mind. Remember, you’re first human before being an officer. You matter, and you are important.”

‘Take care of your Mental Health’ — Jimoh

Receiving the award, AIG Jimoh thanked PPUGI for recognising the sacrifices of police personnel and urged officers to make their physical and mental health a priority.

According to him, policing demands sound judgment, making mental wellness essential to effective service delivery.

“A dead man cannot be a police officer. You have to take care of your health, take care of your mental health, so that you can protect people. The police, what we do, doesn’t allow mistakes, because your mistake can cost people’s lives,” Jimoh said.

The AIG also praised Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, for improving healthcare facilities across police formations through the rehabilitation of police hospitals.

He noted that the reforms have significantly enhanced access to medical care for officers while reducing deaths in service.

Jimoh reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to accountability, saying the organisation welcomes constructive criticism that helps improve policing standards.

“If there’s an officer that actually falls short of what is expected, they equally criticise us. We don’t feel bad about that. If somebody is pointing in a mirror that something is wrong somewhere, we take particular attention to that and we correct it,” he said.

The AIG pledged the full support of Zone 2 Command for PPUGI’s mental health campaign, describing it as a timely initiative that aligns with the Nigeria Police Force’s community policing philosophy.

He also promised to submit a comprehensive report of the programme to the Inspector General of Police, expressing confidence that the initiative would further strengthen officer welfare and public service.