For LSSTF, the investment in the security of Lagos is increasingly becoming an investment in the whole person. That decision may prove just as important as any vehicle, weapon, gadget, or piece of equipment that is granted to the security agencies. This is because the most sophisticated security architecture can only be as effective as the people entrusted to operate it.
Increasingly, the strength of the security architecture depends on the wellbeing, emotional intelligence, financial resilience and technological awareness of the men and women behind the uniform. That broader understanding of security took centre stage at the August edition of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Statewide Multi-Agency Training Programme, held from August 19 to 20, 2026, as the Fund moved beyond conventional operational training to address some of the less visible vulnerabilities confronting security personnel. From health checks and emotional intelligence to retirement planning, investment and cybersecurity, the two-day programme presented security as a human enterprise requiring investment not only in equipment, but also in the people who operate them.
At the training, Professor Oka M. Obono, Chairman of Case Studies Consulting Ltd. and lecturer in the Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, argued that Nigeria’s security challenges require a holistic response combining operational capacity with emotional intelligence and human-centred policing. Obono, who spoke extensively on self-awareness, emotional intelligence and personal financial management, said insecurity was borderless and therefore demanded national, sub-regional and ultimately pan-African cooperation.
He commended LSSTF for incorporating non-kinetic approaches into the training of security personnel, particularly at a time when officers are being prepared to respond more forcefully to increasingly sophisticated threats. He stressed the need for balance in the deployment of force, saying security personnel must be capable of confronting criminals firmly while simultaneously developing the capacity to engage civilians with empathy and restraint. “The confidence and morale is increasing across all agencies. And there’s then the need to balance kinetic and non-kinetic approaches. At a time when security personnel are being trained to deal toughly with insecurity, they also have to correspondingly develop the capabilities to deal less toughly with the civilian population, whom they are supposed to protect.”
According to Obono, the growing professionalism and morale within the security agencies demonstrate what strategic investment in personnel can achieve. He also linked the emotional and financial wellbeing of officers to the effectiveness of security operations, arguing that personnel who feel secure about their future are better positioned to serve society without avoidable stress and vulnerability.
His presentation dovetailed into the financial intelligence session delivered by Mr Isaac Onaolapo, Consultant at Workplace Consult, who challenged security personnel to begin planning for retirement long before leaving active service. Onaolapo identified five key principles which are paying oneself first, creating a financial vision, budgeting, managing debt and investing as essential building blocks for long-term financial stability. He encouraged officers to develop the discipline of saving and investing consistently, however small the amount, and highlighted opportunities including stocks, fixed deposits, treasury bills, bonds and other legitimate investment instruments.
For officers whose careers could span decades, he warned against waiting until retirement before thinking about life after service. “While they are in service for 35 years, they should try and invest. They can’t be involved in business but there are several investment instruments that they can leverage. They should start their retirement planning now, and not wait till retirement. Once you have 10 years, you should start. You should even start earlier. However little, start investing now.”
Onaolapo’s message was particularly significant against the reality that many retirees struggle when the regular income they relied upon throughout their careers suddenly disappears. He therefore urged participants to use their productive years to build investments capable of generating income beyond their salaries.
The training also ventured into the rapidly expanding frontier of cybersecurity and personal data protection, with Mr Desmond Nnebue, General Manager of Globus Training and Advisory Limited, introducing participants to the fundamentals of cybersecurity consciousness.
Nnebue explained the CIA triad to represent Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability as a basic framework for safeguarding information. He urged security personnel to recognise that the protection of information is now as important as physical security, particularly as criminals increasingly exploit digital platforms to obtain sensitive information.
He cautioned participants against careless handling of passwords, OTPs, ATM PINs and other confidential information, urging them to apply the same discipline to their digital assets as they apply to securing their homes, offices and operational facilities. “My charge to Nigerians in terms of data safety is for them to be more security conscious, not just about physical security. Being security conscious now means that they need to guard their data properly.”
He further warned against the indiscriminate posting of photographs and sensitive information on social media, explaining that seemingly harmless disclosures could expose individuals, organisations and even security operations to avoidable risks.
The health component of the programme added another important layer to the initiative. LSSTF integrated free medical check-ups into the training, with participants undergoing basic screenings including blood pressure, blood sugar, weight and height measurements. The intervention reinforced the importance of preventive healthcare among security operatives whose demanding schedules and high-pressure responsibilities can often push personal health to the background.
The closing ceremony brought together the various strands of the programme, with certificates presented to all participants who completed the training. Cash rewards were also presented to participants who arrived early for each day’s programme, reinforcing the values of punctuality, discipline and commitment.