NECA Partners Nigeria Police to Empower Girls, Build Safer Communities

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has entered into a strategic corporate partnership with the Nigeria Police Force through a new initiative tagged Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) as part of efforts to build secure communities for young people.

According to Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, NECA’s Director General, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating safer communities, empowering young people, and addressing the root causes of social vices through preventive and non-kinetic approaches.

Oyerinde disclosed that, as part of the collaboration, NECA will support the police in its forthcoming International Day of the Girl Child Summit 2025, which is billed to hold on Saturday, 11 October 2025, at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi, Abuja.

The summit, convened by POCACOV under the global theme “Girls’ Vision for the Future” and the Nigerian sub-theme “My Identity, My Power: Creating Safer Spaces for the Nigerian Girl Child”, will bring together over 500 secondary school girls, educators, parents, law enforcement officers, civil society organisations, and media partners.

Oyerinde stated that NECA would, among other things, provide facilitators for mentorship sessions across all requested panels and workshops and grant all participants access to NECA’s AI Fluency Course, delivered in collaboration with Microsoft through the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), enabling them to learn, onboard, and be certified in digital skills.

“We will also award a one-session scholarship to two outstanding girls, one from the junior class and one from the senior class, to encourage academic excellence and leadership potential; and provide 50 school bags for participating students as part of our contribution to their learning support,” he added.

He stressed that the summit’s core objectives include equipping girls with leadership and digital skills, providing mentorship from credible female role models, encouraging creative expression by reinforcing the creed “My Identity, My Power,” and strengthening collaboration among schools, families, communities, and the Nigeria Police Force.

Through this partnership, NECA reaffirms its commitment to youth empowerment, gender inclusion, and promoting a safe and enabling environment where every girl can thrive and realise her potential.