By Emmanuel Okogba

Lenders Consult International Limited has clarified its role in organizing the Nigeria Police Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, emphasizing its commitment to supporting the Nigeria Police Force through capacity-building initiatives.

The company, led by Dr. Shina Philips, explained that the Conference and Retreat was conceived in 2019 as a private initiative designed to strengthen leadership within the police force. The retreat brings together senior officers, beginning from the rank of Commissioner of Police, to engage in peer review, exchange ideas, and deliberate on pressing security challenges facing the country.

According to the firm, “Arising from our desire to support the Nigeria Police in their capacity-building efforts, we approached the police authorities with a proposal to organize an annual Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, bringing together senior officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police and above to engage in peer review and cross-fertilization of ideas. Our proposal included an obligation that, as initiators, Lenders Consult International would be responsible for approaching potential sponsors to fund the retreat. This arrangement was well-received and approved from the outset. This arrangement is official and has been in place since 2019.”

The maiden edition of the Conference and Retreat was hosted in Lagos in 2019, with the Lagos State Government serving as the host sponsor. The event was declared open by then Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, representing the late President Muhammadu Buhari. Subsequent editions were held in Uyo in February 2022, Owerri in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and Abeokuta in 2025. The company stated, “We kicked off the maiden edition in 2019 with the Lagos State Government as the host sponsor. The event was declared open by His Excellency, late President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, represented by His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo GCON, the then Vice-President. The Conference and Retreat have subsequently been held in Uyo (February, 2022), Owerri (October, 2022, 2023, 2024), and Abeokuta (2025).”

The firm highlighted that the conference has contributed to reforms within the police, including the establishment of the Police Institute in Abuja. It added, “The Conference has been very impactful and has led to major transformations in the Police Force. One of the key takeaways from the Nigeria Police Conference and Retreat includes, among others, the establishment of the Police Institute in Abuja.”

Building on the success of the retreat, Lenders Consult International later proposed the Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations, aimed at recognizing outstanding officers for their service. Two editions of the awards have already been held in Abuja in 2024 and 2025, fully sponsored by the company and its partners. The company explained, “In furtherance of the desire to continue to motivate the officers and men of the Nigeria Police, we again proposed the idea of an annual Nigeria Police Awards and Commendations, which the police authorities embraced. Two editions of the awards have been held in 2024 and 2025 in Abuja. The awards have been fully sponsored by Lenders Consult International and our partners.”

Dr. Philips, described as a FIFA-licensed football agent, has collaborated with the police on several projects, including serving as a consultant for Police Week 2020. The company noted, “In recognition of his commitment, he was appointed a Consultant to the Police in 2020 and tasked with serving as the sole consultant for the Police Week 2020, which was sadly aborted by COVID-19. Since then, he has continued to make his contributions without receiving any pay. It is based on this appointment that he has had to travel with the immediate Inspector-General of Police. Some of those trips were self-funded, and at no time was any money paid to him or the Company for any of them.”

The firm also emphasized its broader track record as the organizer of the Nigeria Pitch Awards, described as the country’s longest-running football awards programme. It stated, “We have acted as a responsible corporate body by supporting the Government as best as we can. Our MD/CEO, Dr. Shina Philips, has been a patriotic citizen and a FIFA-Licensed Agent who has handled the transfer of some Nigerian footballers. He has enjoyed a strong relationship with the former Inspectors-General of Police and the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force while working on the Projects. He holds the Nigeria Police in very high esteem and is committed to partnering with them to make their job of policing Nigeria easy.”

Lenders Consult International reaffirmed its position as a responsible corporate organization, maintaining cordial relations with the media since launching the Nigeria Pitch Awards at a world press conference in 2011. The company concluded, “We have acted as a responsible corporate body by supporting the Government as best as we can. We remain committed to initiatives that strengthen the Nigeria Police Force and contribute to national security.”