By Julius Peter
The Nigeria Police Force has appointed the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga Agboola, OON, as its National Youth Ambassador, in a move aimed at strengthening youth engagement, cybersecurity awareness, entrepreneurship and peacebuilding among young Nigerians.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, formally conferred the appointment on Agboola on Monday, September 7, 2026, when the technology entrepreneur led a delegation of senior executives and business leaders to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The appointment was made under the International Youth Day 2026 – National Youth Security, Peacebuilding and Empowerment Initiative, a programme designed to harness the influence of credible youth leaders and role models in addressing some of the challenges confronting young people and Nigerian society.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, Agboola’s selection recognises his achievements as a technology entrepreneur and his leadership in building Flutterwave into one of Africa’s prominent financial technology companies.
The Force said his contributions to innovation, financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and responsible enterprise made him a fitting ambassador for an initiative seeking to provide young Nigerians with positive alternatives to crime and other social vices.
The appointment comes at a time when the relationship between technology, youth development and security has become increasingly important.
While digital technology has created new opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, employment and financial inclusion, it has also been exploited by criminals for activities including cyber fraud, identity theft and other forms of technology-enabled crime.
The police initiative therefore seeks to promote a more constructive use of technology by encouraging young Nigerians to pursue legitimate economic opportunities and become active participants in building peaceful and secure communities.
Speaking during the ceremony, IGP Disu stressed the importance of creating positive pathways for young people through education, innovation, entrepreneurship and lawful enterprise.
He said the Nigeria Police Force was committed to engaging young Nigerians not merely as beneficiaries of security but as partners in building safer communities and promoting responsible citizenship.
The Inspector-General charged Agboola to use his platform, experience and influence to inspire young Nigerians to embrace integrity, responsible innovation and legitimate opportunities, while contributing meaningfully to national development.
Beyond youth empowerment, the meeting also focused on the growing role of technology in modern policing.
The IGP highlighted the need for the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen the technological capabilities of its young officers, particularly in understanding emerging technologies and applying them to contemporary policing.
According to him, equipping officers with knowledge of digital tools and cyber-related investigative techniques would improve the Force’s ability to investigate cybercrime, trace digital evidence and respond more effectively to criminal activities facilitated by technology.
The emphasis reflects the changing nature of crime, as law enforcement agencies increasingly confront offences that transcend physical locations and rely heavily on digital platforms, electronic communications and financial technology.
The IGP’s position also underscores the need for closer collaboration between law enforcement agencies and technology companies as policing becomes increasingly dependent on digital intelligence and technical expertise.
Responding to the appointment, Agboola expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General for the confidence reposed in him.
The Flutterwave founder pledged to support the objectives of the initiative, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, cybersecurity awareness, entrepreneurship and peaceful civic engagement.
His appointment places him at the intersection of Nigeria’s technology and security conversations, with the police expecting his experience in entrepreneurship and innovation to help communicate positive messages to young Nigerians.
The initiative is also expected to encourage young people to see technology not as a tool for criminality but as a platform for creating businesses, solving problems, expanding financial inclusion and contributing to economic development.
Agboola was accompanied to the Force Headquarters by a high-powered delegation comprising prominent figures from the private sector and Flutterwave.
The delegation included Dr Stanley Uzochukwu, CEO/Chairman of Stanel Group Ltd; Hajia Risikatu Ahmed, Managing Director, Flutterwave Services Ltd; Olufunmilayo Olaniyi, Senior Vice President/Head, Public Sector; Morounke Olufemi, Group Chief Financial Officer; Hadiza Nwide, Vice President, Business Development; Chizoba Okafor, Managing Director, MFB Flutterwave; Rachael E. Oke, Diaspora, UK Lead; Omobolade Oshiokameh, Chief of Staff – Nigeria; and Asuquo Betseabasi Eyo, Legal Assistant to the CEO, Stanel.
Their presence highlighted the broader private-sector dimension of the initiative and the potential for collaboration between businesses, technology companies and security institutions in tackling youth-related challenges.
The Nigeria Police Force’s decision to involve a technology entrepreneur in its youth engagement strategy reflects a broader recognition that contemporary security challenges cannot be addressed by law enforcement alone.
With Nigeria’s large and youthful population increasingly connected to digital platforms, social media, mobile financial services and online businesses, stakeholders in security and development face the dual challenge of protecting young people from exploitation while creating opportunities for them to thrive.
The police initiative seeks to position credible role models at the centre of that conversation.
Rather than focusing solely on punitive responses to cybercrime and other youth-related offences, the programme places emphasis on prevention, empowerment and positive engagement.
Its objectives include promoting peacebuilding, cybersecurity awareness, entrepreneurship and constructive civic participation, while encouraging young Nigerians to reject cybercrime and other social vices.
For the police, the strategy is also an opportunity to build greater trust and communication between young citizens and law enforcement institutions.
The IGP’s emphasis on developing the technological capacity of police officers also points to the increasingly important role of digital expertise in modern law enforcement.
Investigations into technology-enabled crimes frequently require specialised knowledge of digital platforms, electronic transactions, online identities and digital evidence.
Strengthening officers’ understanding of emerging technologies could therefore enhance the Force’s capacity to detect and investigate crimes that increasingly occur in virtual spaces.
It could also provide opportunities for deeper engagement with technology companies and other private-sector organisations whose expertise may complement the capabilities of law enforcement agencies.
The appointment of Agboola as National Youth Ambassador could consequently serve as more than a symbolic recognition of entrepreneurial success. It could provide a platform for sustained dialogue among young Nigerians, technology entrepreneurs, security institutions and other stakeholders on how innovation can be channelled towards national development.
The Nigeria Police Force maintained that the initiative is part of its commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships that advance youth empowerment, technological innovation and cybersecurity.
The Force said young Nigerians must be engaged as partners in building safer communities rather than viewed solely through the lens of security challenges.
For Agboola, the assignment provides an opportunity to leverage his profile and experience in technology and entrepreneurship to encourage young people to pursue lawful and productive opportunities.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with the security implications of rapid technological change, the success of the initiative will depend largely on how effectively its message translates into practical opportunities for young people and stronger collaboration between the police, the technology sector and communities.
The appointment therefore represents a significant convergence of youth development, technology, entrepreneurship and national security, with the Nigeria Police Force seeking to use positive leadership and innovation as tools for preventing crime and promoting responsible citizenship.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force remains committed to strengthening strategic partnerships that promote youth empowerment, technological innovation and cybersecurity, while engaging young Nigerians as partners in building safer communities and contributing to national development.
The appointment was formally announced on September 7, 2026, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
