Determination to succeed

#EMBA27

Which is powerful

Barack Obama talked and wrote about the audacity of hope. Hope is an attribute of human beings powerful enough to sustain existence. Yet, more powerful is determination or resolution. I dare to say, where determination exists, failure cannot dismantle the flag of success. The Yoruba people have an adage and it says, it is easy to dream (actually anyone can) but actualizing your dream is a different ball game entirely (it takes hard work). This is the story of Benjamin Hundeyin, a superintendent of Nigerian Police force and the newly appointed public relations officer for Lagos state.

In the Beginning

Benjamin, a bachelor of art graduate in English language from the Lagos state university began his career as an intern at inspirational FM Lagos (a radio station) in the year 2010. According to Azu Osumili, a veteran of journalism and a staff of inspirational FM was Benjamin in 2010. Azu requested Benjamin to a story on the involving the Lagos police command and Benjamin had an encounter with Frank Mba, the then public relations officer of Lagos Police command. According to his account, Benjamin fell in love with Frank Mba and his role as a police PRO and dreamt to be like him. It was a dream Azu did not share at the time because he taught the young man could do something else with his time. Unperturbed by the feedback, Benjamin pursued his dream.

The Journey

Upon completion of his NYSC program, Benjamin applied and enrolled into the Nigeria Police force in 2012 and completed a cadet ASP course. Immediately after completion of the cadet course, he went to University of Ibadan were he achieved an MSc in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology. In 2015, he proceeded to West Africa Regional Training Center, Ghana to complete a certificate course in fundamental Investigative criminal analysis. In 2018, he bagged a diploma in human resource management from the chartered Institute of personnel management of Nigeria. Finally, in 2019, he studied at the school of media and communication, Pan-Atlantic University where he completed a course in public relations strategy and communication skills, Communication and Media Studies. He also holds a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

The Glory

Prior to his posting, he was listed as a member of the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan in 2020. He also held the position of PPRO at the Zone 2 Command Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos and most recently the Administration Officer at the Force Public Relations Department, Police Headquarters in Abuja. Benjamin was announced by the Command’s Administration Officer, DSP Stephen Kuti and replaced CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, who spent seven months as the Lagos PPRO. Basically, it took Benjamin 12 years to leave his dream. Today was dreamt about in 2010 and he stayed focused, resolute and unshaken by events and circumstances along the way.  Azu, gave this account in recognition of this great determination and focus.