Mike Okiro’s Philanthropy Promotes Peace, Unity Across Nigeria — Babangida

From Enyi Ejike-Umunnabuike Jr, who was in Minna, Niger State.

Nigeria’s 13th Inspector-General of Police and the 21st Commissioner of Police in Lagos State during the first tenure of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Executive Governor of Lagos State, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, has been described as a promoter of national unity.
The commendation came from former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), who praised Okiro for advancing the ideals, values, and principles of national unity, peace, religious harmony, ethnocentric tolerance, and development administration.
The retired Inspector-General of Police received the commendation on Thursday, May 14, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the residence of the 85-year-old former Head of State in Minna, Niger State.
General Babangida commended Sir Mike Mbama Okiro’s patriotism, nationalist zeal, and philanthropic disposition, especially his efforts toward promoting religious harmony, peaceful coexistence, tolerance, and national unity through the renovation of the Police Secondary School Juma’at Mosque in Minna.
Sir Mike Mbama Okiro had earlier, during his birthday celebration in 2025, commissioned a Catholic worship chapel at the Police Secondary School for Christian students and also promised to provide a new structure for Pentecostal worshippers.
The Police Secondary School Juma’at Mosque and Church projects, the fourth of such initiatives nationwide, have already been established in Kano, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and another state.
Earlier during the commissioning ceremony, the Chairman of the occasion and member of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Mallam Garba Attahiru, who conferred the traditional title of “Hasken Nupe” on retired IGP Mike Mbama Okiro, described him as an intelligent, hardworking, kind-hearted, highly resourceful, God-fearing, and committed human-capital developer.
Speaking at the event, Commissioner of Police A.A. Elleman, described as one of IGP Olatuji Disu’s trusted detectives who pioneered highly sensitive units at the EFCC and the defunct Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), now National Revenue Service, said Sir Mike Mbama Okiro remains a mentor to many retired and serving senior police officers.
According to him, “Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, retired IGP and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, is a mentor not only to me but to many senior police officers. He is a good man who believes in helping officers and men achieve their professional career goals.”
Elleman disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatuji Disu, had directed him to represent him at the event due to another official engagement.
He quoted the IGP as commending Okiro’s philanthropic efforts toward humanity, especially through projects aimed at instilling positive values in students of Police Secondary School, Minna.
Also speaking, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro’s primary and secondary school classmate in Oguta, Alhaji A. Bello, described the former Police Service Commission Chairman as trustworthy, honest, reliable, God-fearing, hardworking, and highly intelligent.
He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could still tap into Okiro’s vast experience and competence for national development.
“I am a Northerner of Fulani and Karuri parentage, born and raised in Oguta, and I know Sir Mike Mbama Okiro as a good man,” Bello stated.
Chief Kingsley Omo-Ojie, an alumnus of Police Secondary School Minna, Class of 2005, who initiated the idea of the philanthropic gesture to the school, expressed gratitude to God for inspiring the retired IGP to establish both a Christian worship centre in 2025 and the Juma’at Mosque in 2026.