A few days ago, Mr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase was named the new Inspector General of Police (IGP). Though he is resuming during a historic transitional period, the significance of his appointment should not be lost on us. According to widely circulated media reports, Mr. Arase, the nation's 18th police chief, holds at least four academic degrees. That makes him easily the most educated and, therefore most qualified, IGP Nigeria has had to date.

Mr. Solomon Arase is said to have earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Political Science, from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1980. Next, he got his second degree, a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from University of Benin, Edo State in 1998. Thereafter, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory where he qualified as a Barrister At Law (BL) in 2001. Mr. Arase's third degree was a Master in Law (LL.M) from Lagos State University, Lagos State in 2004. His fourth academic degree was a Master of Strategic Studies (MSS) from University of Ibadan, Oyo State in 2009.

Prior to his fourth university degree, Mr. Arase had scaled through the very competitive and prestigious Nigeria Defence College studies in 2008, winning the Award for the Best Essay in Internal Security. For his brilliance, he was awarded the laurel of Fellow, Nigeria Defence College (fdc).

Mr. Arase has also attended numerous professional courses, training sessions and executive management programs in leading and reputable institutions worldwide. These diverse global interactions and exposure have established Mr. Arase's credentials as one of the leading authorities in Intelligence, Counterterrorism and Transnational Security not only in Nigeria but indeed the African continent.

Besides the above listed sterling educational qualifications, Mr. Arase has, over a 33-year career, demonstrated operational excellence through many historic initiatives especially in the field of intelligence-led policing.

For instance, Mr. Arase was instrumental in the setting up of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence School in Enugu State as well as the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Institute in Share, Kwara State. The remit of both institutions is to "train strategic intelligence managers and mid-level/junior intelligence operatives. This is a landmark achievement as it represents the first time in the nearly 100 years history of the Nigeria Police Force that institutions are dedicated exclusively to the training of intelligence officers of the Force would be established in Nigeria".

Mr. Arase fortuitously served as the Principal Staff Officer (PSO) to three successive Inspectors General of Police (i.e. Messrs Mustafa Adebayo Balogun, Sunday Gabriel Ehindeiro and Mike Mbama Okiro) between 2002 and 2008, thereby preparing him for the onerous national responsibility that has suddenly fallen upon his shoulders.

So today, Nigeria welcomes its most educated and, probably also, most qualified Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase.