LocationsShaping the Future of Policing: Building AI Skills for a Digital Age
October 12, 2025
AI and Smart Policing TOT
In a world where technology is transforming the public security landscape, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is taking proactive steps in preparing its officers for the realities of modern law enforcement. From 18 to 22 August 2025, the National Institute of Police Studies (NIPS) in Abuja hosted the first-ever Artificial Intelligence Foundation Course for 45 senior instructors from Police Training Colleges and Schools across Nigeria. This is a pioneering step towards integrating AI literacy into core police education undertaken by the NPF Department of Training and Development in partnership with UNDP and the Police Reform Secretariat, under the Police Accountability and Transformation Project, funded by the Federal Government of Germany and implemented in collaboration with the Global Security Sector Foundation and CLEEN Foundation.
This inaugural AI Foundation course brought together 45 senior instructors from police training institutions in Nigeria for a five-day AI learning and knowledge-sharing event. The overall aim of the course was to begin positioning the Nigeria Police Force at the forefront of ethical, data-driven smart policing for efficient and effective public safety. As law enforcement agencies worldwide turn to AI for operational efficiency, investigative precision, and data-driven decision-making, AI literacy is no longer an option; it is essential for operational effectiveness.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Department of Training and Development, DIG Frank Mba,stated that “the course was a clear demonstration of the NPF’s commitment to equip the officers with the knowledge and skills needed to serve Nigerians in a rapidly changing security environment. Policing today demands more than courage and discipline; it requires the ability to harness technology responsibly and effectively. The Force under the leadership of IGP Kayode Egbetokun, NPM, PhD, is grateful to our partners on the Police Reform Project for supporting this groundbreaking step, and we are ready as a Force to embrace innovation that strengthens accountability, builds public trust, and makes our policing more responsive to the needs of the people.”
Police Woman presenting during the training
Ms Varsha Redkar-Palepu, UNDP Nigeria Deputy Resident Representative – Programme, noted that “this inaugural AI Foundation Course is just the beginning towards NPF’s vision to be a leader in smart policing as part of its ongoing police modernisation and reform agenda. This learning event has marked another milestone in Nigeria’s police reform, equipping the Nigeria Police Force to meet the demands of modern responsive policing in a way that is ethical and effective while maintaining the trust of the communities they serve.”
Through this engagement, participants explored real-world applications in smart policing, from data-driven decision-making and surveillance analytics to predictive policing and learned how to integrate these tools into core policing training curricula. Sessions focused on the ethical, legal, and human rights dimensions of AI use, ensuring that innovation goes hand in hand with accountability and public trust.
A step towards smarter, more people-centred policing
By empowering senior trainers with both technical knowledge and instructional capacity, the programme ensures that AI literacy can be cascaded across all police educational institutions in Nigeria over time. This approach supports NPF’s long-term vision for police reform and modernisation by creating AI advocates within the Force who can not only understand the technology but can teach it, contextualise it, and model its responsible use. This pioneering work is implemented under the Police Accountability and Transformative Project, funded by the Federal Government of Germany.