CSP Patricia Amadin is currently the Divisional Police Officer Anthony Divisional Headquarter,  Lagos State Police Command.

Born in Benin City, Edo State, Amadin attended the Federal Government Girl’s College, Benin City from 1988 to 1993 and the University of Benin between 1997 and 2000 graduating with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Mathematics and Economics.

Amadin enlisted into the Nigeria Police Academy, Kano on February 1, 2005. She has worked at different police formations including Isolo Divisional Traffic Officer, CP ‘X’ Squad-Aug 2014-Jan. 2015, Team Leader, Isolo Division-Aug. 2013-Aug. 2014, Divisional Traffic Officer, Isolo-Aug. 2011-Aug 2013, Crime Officer, 2009-2011 Deputy PPRO, Lagos State Command, Akinpelu Division Nov. 2007-2009, O/C JWC, Lagos State Command, Sabo Division, Aug. 2006-Nov. 2007, one-year compulsory attachment in Traffic, DCB, Admin and Charge Room Nigeria Police Academy, Kano.

In 2015 Amadin was appointed the Spokesperson of Lagos State Police Command, and she became the second female Police Public Relations Officer to serve in Lagos after Ngozi Braide.

Recently she received an award for ‘’Effective Community Engagement, Courage and Exceptional Performance, for her outstanding service as DPO Anthony Division, Lagos State Police Command

In this chat with ipledge2nigeria Patricia Amadin talked about how Anthony police Division was spared during the Endsars protest that saw the destruction of many police formations across the country, women in leadership, her recent award, and other sundry issues.

If you are reflecting on that day of the #Endsars, every time you think about that event, the build-up, during the Endsars protest, how you calmed the situation, what goes through your mind?

It was a risk I took, and the fact that I took that risk has never left me. The truth is that when the protesters came on that day, an Inspector of Police had already been killed somewhere at Surulere. He was shot in the stomach and then died a few hours later.

So for me, it was a risk I was willing to take, first, because I knew the community I was in. Also, I needed to show the men that there’s a reward for good work, for hard work, so all the time I think of this, I remember the initial fear that gripped me that day, I remember that I surmounted the fear and went for it, made a call for it, I addressed protesters. I asked them what they wanted, to make their protest and their journey easier. I bought them water, I sang with them and I offered to take a walk with them, I walked with them to Shomolu. When we crossed the express to Shomolu, the protesters had to send me back and on that very day, I got 4,100 tweets on Twitter. So every time I think about it is like magic because it wasn’t premeditated, I acted on impulse and I am thankful that I took such a decision.

We hardly see women take leadership positions or female police officers being given an award, so what are your feelings on that aspect?

Also, what are you doing to encourage other women to emulate and embrace leadership like you? 

Sometimes, we’re inundated by our fears, genuine fears against our abilities, genuine fears arising from exceptions of society, genuine fears because there are natural limitations that come to us by being women.

So I usually tell women, that what they do can go a long way to further validate women folks and their essence in service. I talk to them, especially when I have my lectures, I tell the other policewomen, don’t allow a man to win you simply because he is a man.

You can do so on account of knowledge and professionalism but not for the same reason that you are a woman. So I want to encourage women, I want to them know that they can do more, far exceedingly more than they think they can. And that given a level playing field, there is nothing that says a woman cannot beat a man.

What exactly did you do that endeared you to the people in Anthony division?

Community Policing, like the Commissioner of Police, said earlier, in partnership with the community, there is no area within Anthony or Mende for instance that they do not know me. Most times when I walk on the street, I am embarrassed because all I hear is ‘mama’. They tend to build my morale. They give me information far more than I need, so it is up to me to do what I want with the information given. So I integrated myself into the community, everyone has my phone number, and I pick up their calls; at 2 am, and 3 am, and I don’t turn anybody down. I am present for them, I am always at the station, and I partake in their communities activities.

How do you feel about this award? 

I am very excited, very happy, I feel fulfilled. I feel rewarded and I take this as an acknowledgement for a job well done.

What’s your take home from the experience of what happened today, you were not the only person awarded?

My experience today has shown further that the world is watching. That whatever it is that we do, we should strive to be the best. We should aim for excellence and as much as we do not expect the reward. For instance, in my case, this particular award has been two years long coming. Although you think that the reward didn’t come on time or did not come as expected but they do come eventually, so we should keep up with the good work and then we get blessed by everything that we do.

What is your word to the organisers of the event?

I did like to thank the Stakeholders Forum on Police Accountability (SFPA) for this beautiful and highly incredible award. I would like to say that in all modesty, it has spurred me on to do more, I do not intend to abuse it and that Nigeria will be great again.