By Adesina Wahab
She got enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, 24 years ago and has risen through the ranks to become an Inspector in the Traffic Department. Justina Omogbai, a mother of five, was recently recognized and honoured by the management of Trinity University, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos during their second Registry Week and Lecture. They gave her a Certificate of Recognition and an undisclosed amount of money for her tireless efforts at ensuring students in public schools in that axis get to school on time and are properly dressed.
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After observing that some students are fond of loitering around when they ought to be in school, Omogbai turned herself to a chief whip, ensuring that they get to school early enough for their studies. Like a football referee, she would put a whistle in her mouth and clutch a cane, not to beat any student, but to scare them to do the right thing – get to school early enough. She has also become a Madam Santa Claus to some of the students she assists occasionally with writing materials, shoes, uniforms among others.
To know the depth of the sacrifices she makes, one needs to have an idea of how much a police inspector earns monthly in the country.
According to the Consolidated Police Salary Structure, CONPOSS, an Inspector of Police in Nigeria earns an estimated monthly basic salary between N167,000 and N254,000, depending on their precise sub-rank and grade level. The Inspector rank is divided into sub-categories which dictate the exact take-home pay: Inspector of Police (IP) II: N67,000 per month, Inspector of Police (IP) I: N254,000 per month.
On what prompted her service to humanity, she said, “I was posted to Sabo, Yaba in 2021 and I have been in the service for 24 years. Everywhere I have worked in Lagos, I have always tried to distinguish myself. These pupils and students are our future leaders and we must do everything possible to lead them aright. They can be governors, President, Ministers or anything God has purposed for them in the future. Whenever I see them pass by without dressing properly, I feel for them. I also went to a public school and our parents took great care of us. We wore Cortina shoes to school and dressed well. Nobody wore slippers to school.
“But now, some children don’t dress well to school, they will wear torn uniforms or not minding to wash those uniforms. And they go to school very late too. You will see a child that is supposed to be in school by 7.45am just strolling there by 8.30am or even 9am. Majority of them I see at food vendors’ places, or where they would meet to discuss sports and other issues. So, I said what kind of life is this? Because a wayward child today possibly started like that. So, I decided to take it upon myself to start to caution them. That they should not do such things but to have focus in life.”
But with five children of her own, and with the current economic situation in the country, surely it is an arduous task living comfortably, not to think of serving in loco parentis to some children one does not know their parents. But Omogbai would not be deterred. She has kind words for her husband, an Air Force personnel for being her pillar of support.
“It was difficult for me when I started, some of my colleagues were telling me whether I have taken adequate care of my own children. I have five children. When I talk to those children, I will draw them close and advise them.
“There are 10 public schools in this axis that I take care of their students. Some of them do come to me to seek advice on issues or tell me what they are going through at home or in school. I do encourage them. I used to tell them that though I am not their biological mother, I am still a mother figure to them. Whenever I collect my salary, I used to dedicate part of it to their welfare. I buy socks, shoes, writing materials etc for them. I am glad that my husband also supports me, as without his support, I won’t be able to do those things.”
Is she not behaving like a dog which wants to keep guard in two different apartments? Will one duty, precisely, her official duty, not suffer neglect, since she has turned herself to a timekeeper for the students? Explaining, she said she found a way of not letting her zeal for community work stand in the way of her official duty.
“As a traffic officer, when I get to my point of duty, I will control the traffic to ensure free flow. Also, there are other officers with me including LASTMA people. After ensuring that the traffic is flowing, then I can move down to begin to look out for where the children normally stay to loiter. I have my whistle and I will blow it. Once I do that, the students will begin to run and move in the directions of their schools. Though I used to carry I cane, I never used it. The children fear me and when they hear the whistle, they know it is me and will do the right thing by heading to their schools.”
With the thinking in some quarters that discipline has taken flight from our schools, the police inspector emphatised with teachers, expressing the feeling that they are surely overwhelmed with the number of students they cater to and handle.
As a law officer and a mother, one would expect her to have a tough approach to raising children, but Omogbai believes that raising children is not all about shouting or beating them, “but talk to them like a parent and they will understand.”
In the course of her community voluntary work, she said there has not been any reason to recommend taking any of the students to a remand home. “If they have issues with their teachers or school authorities , I do intervene and help to settle such,” she stated.
On the part her background plays in her attitude to life, she noted her desire has been to positively impact others anytime and anywhere she goes.
“I was born and raised in the barracks, the Air Force Base and I am married to an Air Force personnel. I want to make a difference in the lives of people, children, widows and anybody who comes my way and I am in the position to help. I never knew people were watching me. All of a sudden, somebody just told me they needed my attention at Trinity University and I asked whether I have done anything wrong and he said no, that they saw my good works and truly I enjoy doing the work. When you do good, God has a way of rewarding you.
I am overwhelmed with the recognition given me by Trinity University. You could see that I was unable to talk, I shed tears of joy. I just started thanking God.”
The motherly Police Inspector had encomium poured on her by the Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, Prof. Clement Kolawole and the Registrar, Mr David Oyejide, who described her as a positive influence on the young ones, who could learn the art of kindness and assisting others from her.
Omogbai, who has received recognitions and has been honoured by different groups and individuals, is an example of proving wrong those who don’t believe that nothing good can come out of Nazareth of the Nigeria Police Force.
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