By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
In a significant step towards police reform, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, in collaboration with the University of Jos, launched a trauma counselors training program for law enforcement officers.
Mr. Napoleon Enayaba, Program Specialist, Rule of Law and Human Rights Unit, UNDP Nigeria, represented by Dr. Jimam Lar, emphasised the importance of this initiative, stating, “This initiative represents a milestone in our collective effort to strengthen police reform and enhance the capacity of law enforcement officers serving in conflict-affected areas.”
The training, facilitated through a Memorandum of Understanding between the Nigeria Police Force and the University of Jos, aims to equip ten officers from conflict-affected states with specialised skills in trauma counseling.
The officers, drawn from Sokoto, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, Plateau, Benue, and Niger, will undergo training at the Police Staff College under the guidance of the Department of Psychology, University of Jos.
The UNDP has also established six trauma counseling centers across North-West Nigeria, providing safe spaces for officers and community members to address trauma with professionalism and compassion.
Prof. Tanko Ishaya, Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, while speaking at the the event, said, “The training aims to equip officers with practical skills in counselling, crisis intervention, trauma management, and conflict resolution.
Ishaya praised the partnership, stating, “This collaboration reflects a shared understanding that effective policing must go beyond enforcement to include empathy, psychological insight, and trauma-informed responses.
