Former Inspector-General of Police and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Mike Mbama Okiro, has received praise for promoting religious tolerance and national unity after constructing a mosque at Police Secondary School, Minna, in Niger State.
This was disclosed in a statement by his Media Aide, Amb. Prince Sixtus Opara, who described the project as a reflection of peaceful coexistence, inclusion and religious harmony in a multicultural society like Nigeria.
According to the statement, Okiro, a Christian from Southern Nigeria, personally financed and completed the mosque to provide Muslim students, staff and members of the surrounding community with a suitable place of worship within the school premises.
The initiative has been widely regarded as a gesture that transcends ethnic and religious differences, particularly in an institution that accommodates people from different parts of the country.
Speaking at the commissioning of the mosque, the Emir of Kagara, Garba Attahiru, commended Okiro for what he described as a major contribution to peace, humanity and national unity.
In recognition of the gesture, the monarch conferred on the former police chief the traditional title of “Sarkin-Haske of Niger.”
Reports indicated that the newly inaugurated mosque is the fourth mosque Okiro has either built or renovated in different parts of the country, further highlighting his support for humanitarian causes and interfaith harmony.
Observers also described the project as a model of leadership rooted in mutual respect and national cohesion, noting that such initiatives could help strengthen unity across Nigeria.
They further called on political office holders, traditional rulers, religious bodies and other influential Nigerians to embrace actions capable of fostering peaceful coexistence and bridging religious and regional divides in the country.