It was all shades of love and affection served out in friendly cordiality to the immediate past DPO of Ilupeju division, SP Matilda Umiah Ngbaronye who was recently redeployed to State CID, Panti over the weekend as the URJA Foundation and the entire Indian community sent forth the gallant DPO. It also provided a good opportunity for the community to assure the new DPO, SP Emeka Umeozor of their unflinching support, TheMediaGood Newspaper can report.
Many security and community stakeholders from within and outside Ilupeju were present at the event. They include the Leader of Indian community in Lagos and President of Bhoypuri Pariwar Global Foundation, Mr. Shanti Bhooshan Singh; President of National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Oki Samson, Police officers from Ilupeju division, among others.
In her address, the Founder of URJA Foundation, Mrs. Rukhi Mitra told SP Matilda Ngbaronye at the sendforth ceremony, ‘On behalf of the URJA Foundation, we wish you well as you embark on the next chapter of your journey. Your dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to serving our community have left an indelible mark on all of us. Throughout your tenure as DPO, you have exemplified professionalism integrating it with compassion.’
‘Your tireless effort to maintain law and order, promoting safety, and fostering community engagement has not gone unnoticed. Under your guidance, we have witnessed significant improvement in various aspects of law enforcement including crime prevention, community policing programs to enhance public trust and cooperation. As you embark on your new endeavour, we extend heartfelt gratitude for your service and wishing you success and happiness on your new journey’, Mrs. Mitra said.
In her brief address to the new DPO, SP Emeka Umeozor, the leader of URJA Foundation said: ‘The URJA Foundation extends a warm welcome to you. We are delighted to have you join us in our community as you assume this crucial role of maintaining law and order. As a foundation dedicated to prompting safety, security, and community wellbeing, we recognise the critical role that law enforcement plays to achieve this goal. We will support you in every way possible.’
On the giant strides that the Foundation is making, Mrs. Mitra remarked: ‘URJA Foundation in the last 11 years nurtured and cared for Nigerian children. We have produced 5 doctors, news leaders, carpenters, welders, tailors, etc. We do vocational training. We encourage you to send any child who needs help to us.’
Expressing her gratitude and excitement, the one-time Deputy PPRO at Lagos State Police Command, SP Matilda Umiah Ngbaronye poured out her joy in her heartfelt response. She said: ‘URJA Foundation has been a very integral part of my work here. URJA Foundation has taken me like family. I have no regret. 2 years, 3 months as the first woman to be here I have had a very interesting and fruitful journey. It won’t have been possible without the support of the community and URJA Foundation. I want to say thank you.’
On the importance of transfers within the Force, Matilda noted: ‘For us to grow, we have to move from place to place. As I go, I go with you. I am very happy for all you have been to me. I implore you to give the same support to my coursemate, brother, and friend, SP Emeka Umeozor. This is how we roll.’
Founder, URJA Foundation, Mrs. Rukhi Mitra (2nd left); Leader of Indian community in Lagos and President of Bhoypuri Pariwar Global Foundation, Mr. Shanti Bhooshan Singh (2nd right); outgoing DPO Ilupeju Division, SP Matilda Umiah Ngbaronye (3rd right); new DPO Ilupeju, SP Emeka Umeozor (right) and others during the sendforth reception in honour of the immediate past DPO, Ilupeju, SP Ngbaronye
Also expressing his appreciation to the URJA Foundation and the Indian community in Ilupeju, SP Emeka Umeozor said: ‘You have shared the light of humanity in Nigeria. It is not easy to move all the way from India to make impact in Nigeria. It shows you love Nigeria. I pray God will sustain this URJA Foundation.’
‘My sister, Matilda, I call her ‘big sis’. We have been together. Most times when I have challenge, I call her so we do things together. I want to sincerely say thank you very much for exhibiting this good work’, Emeka Umeozor concluded.