Igbos particularly of Anambra origin are known to be industrious and enterprising. They have paid their dues in virtually all the careers in existence. But one place you see Igbos in small numbers is the police force. It is even more difficult to see Igbo women particularly professionals pursuing a career in that area. That is why the few Igbo women who made it to the top of their career are often celebrated. ANAMBRA PEOPLE beamed its searchlight on 2 female police officers who attained very senior position in the police force;
GRACE CHITA OKUDO is the first Anambra woman to attain the position of AIG. She is from Ogidi in Idemili North LGA. Grace is a consultant Physician and Dermatologist/Venereologist, a Fellow of the Medical College of Physicians of Nigeria, an international fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and recently retired as an Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) and Head of Nigeria Police Medical Services. Dr. Okudo has served Nigeria meritoriously both as a medical doctor where she pioneered police medical department.
PATIENCE IBEKWE ABDALLAH was born in Onitsha, she is the former Deputy Inspector-General of Police in Nigeria. Before her promotion to a Deputy Inspector General of Police, she was an Assistant Inspector General of Police at the Office of the National Security Adviser, The presidency, Abuja where she contributed to the maintenance of national security. She also served as the commissioner of police in Ebonyi state Nigeria in 2015. She was retired from the service of Nigerian Police following the appointment Muhammed Adamu as a new Inspector General of Police on 15 January 2019. Her retirement was in furtherance to the convention that recommends the retirement of senior police chiefs when an officer junior to them in service or lower in rank is appointed to lead the police force.