Let’s talk serious security education

From civil unrest to terrorism, organized crime, everyday security breaches and the vulnerability of the world’s increasing openness, security has become one of the world biggest issues. Dr. ‘Wale  Adeagbo, Director of Halogen School of Security Management & Technology (HSSM), in this piece, notes that security has become multi-dimensional, especially with growing global trends. He emphasized the need for holistic security education to enhance the quality of the security profession and practice.

Ramdom views

In the last four weeks, I have had cause to interact with two high level businessmen. The first, Johnbosco Enamidem (not real name), is the founder of a multi-million trading outfit. He owns a busy warehouse with lots of men milling around the company doing one work or the other. Despite the level of activities going on in this one-year old business, Enamidem does not believe that he needs well-trained security personnel to man his business premises. He does not see why ‘ordinary young men’ with minimum of primary education should not do the job.

The second personality, Harrison Ariwo (not real name), is the CEO of a high-flying consulting firm. Both his business and residential premises have sophisticated security guards and top-level security gadgets. These no-nonsense security arrangement also includes well-trained dogs. However, in the first half of 2017 alone, Ariwo has suffered severe financial losses due to compromised access to his bank accounts and other sensitive information. He has a good sense of physical security but a near-zero appreciation for cyber security.

Widening security trends

What we have found out, as a future-determining organization, is that there will be likely increase in ‘insecurity’ across most spectrums of our currently ‘globalized’ life. Also, security will have a different notion, as part of the consequence of the development and intrusion of cyber-based systems, E-platforms, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, alongside the localization (individualization) of security. We predict that all these will radically transform our social and economic existence.

Consequently, security will become a factor in our everyday life and a front liner in strategy and policy within public and private sectors.

The Nigeria situation

Our view is that for security to be sustainable and viable, it must be targeted at the security of the individual citizens, communities, businesses and the State – all of which are interlinked. In many contexts, we can already see a considerable gap between security, its agencies and ordinary citizens. Taking a critical look at the ‘security sector’ in broad terms (adopting the UN definition); we see the structures, institutions and personnel responsible for the management, provision and oversight of security as part of a wholesale system. Generally, this includes defence, law enforcement, corrections, intelligence services and institutions responsible for border management, customs and civil emergencies. Indeed our private security sector seats within all that. What we find is that Nigeria needs a more holistic accommodation of who and what should be under the umbrella of security.

This is because, it is apparent that if you attempt to link security with development agendas, you will find that the Nigerian policy imperative is lacking on this important strategic stance. International development paradigm suggests that one of the principal obstacles to development, especially in Africa, is the existence of bloated, repressive, undemocratic and poorly structured security.

Our approach to filing the gaps

Beyond Halogen’s long standing position as a holistic security solutions company, we have Halogen School of Security Management & Technology (HSSM&T). With regards to the modus operandi of the current players in the market, indications are that ‘Quality of Learning’ and ‘Industry Acceptance’ are critical factors that influence in the market. Other notable gaps are the unregulated nature of the industry, few strategic alliances and lack of standardisation in practice and competencies/skills sets. All these gaps are what HSSM&T intends to fill. With all these in mind, we have framed HSSM&T to be strategically responsive to these dynamics with our basket of services as we position ourselves as part of the solution.

What role does HSSM&T play?

HSSM&T provides training for new cadets and also offers other specialized training in the field and practice of security, such as close protection training, defensive driving, risk management, investigation and reporting, etc. HSSM&T is positioned as an establishment of thought development, capacity building for security managers and operatives in the corporate and public sector and the development of expertise on the study and practice of security. It is the only institution in Nigeria focused on thought leadership in the field of security, with broad based approach to viewing and explicating security, as well as situating its principles and practices within human, social, corporate and sustainable development.

Moving away from the single view of security and taking into consideration today’s trends, HSSM&T adopts a broad-based notion of ‘security’ viewing it as permeating all areas of human and societal existences and endeavours: such as medicine security, economic security, food security, human security, physical security, cyber security, environmental security, education security, defence security, alongside the intellectual (esoteric sphere) such as philosophy of security, security ethics, epistemology of security, etc.

HSSM&T is therefore unique in its aspiration as the organization further develops into an institution that evidently shapes the agenda of and for security – for practitioners and professionals – by creating and disseminating knowledge, becoming a high-level space for reflections and evidenced-based research in the security field as well as establishing the standard for security thinking and practice.

Future-determining plans for HSSM&T

We live by trends. That way, we are able to stay ahead of the curve, with regards to all matters of security. To this effect, HSSM&T is creating a research and policy desk that will track industry trends and development while we maximse the academic resource of one of our academic institution partner, Babcock University, in this area. To also ensure that we take cognizance of our operating environment and that we are responsive to it, we have situated our services’ provisions at HSSM&T into four main pillars/frames.

Frame 1: HSSM&T will be a space for strategic thinking – policy-practice or conceptual-contextual – resulting in thought leadership, using research, expert-based approach, seminars, etc. These sessions will produce think-pieces that explicate industry trends, issues, challenges and opportunities and come up with policy and strategic recommendations.

Frame 2: HSSM&T will continue to focus on specialized training and the capacity development of corporate practitioners. We will imbibe in them, intellectual capacity, innovative and strategic thinking. This will provide practitioners in our industry with new thinking in the field and practice of security.

Frame 3: HSSM&T will ensure the standardisation of physical security operations via the introduction of internationally accredited certifications. By affording this to all the cadets that pass though the school, HSSM&T will ensure that each one of them will possess the competencies to practice to international best practice and standard and compete favourably with their colleagues in Europe and USA as the certifications will be internationally portable.

Frame 4: HSSM&T aims to establish a campus for academic pathways – offering Certificate, Diploma, Degree, MBA (and ultimately a PhD program) – in partnership with our academic institution partners. Agreements are already being signed and our school is currently offering the Certificate and Diploma programmes with Babcock University. Our MBA in Security Management will start before the end of2017. With these initiatives, HSSM will create an academic pathway and carve career opportunities and progressions in the field and practice of security, thus making it attractive for all.

To achieve our aspirations, we will intensify our partnership approach to our operations and service delivery by identifying, mapping out and signing up partner organizations – local and international. These will be organizations that share similar strategic objectives with us and have similar organizational values of professionalism and people first. We are currently exploring institutions such as HABC and the British Safety Council, both in the UK.

Deepening the value

HSSM&T will be creating a lot more value by developing a repository of resource persons to engage and lead our local and international training and policy sessions. Our resources will be highly experienced individuals in the field of security and with intellectual standing and approaches security. We already have Major Gen. Garba Wahab [Rtd.], Solomon Arase [I.G. Rtd] and Dr. Abiola Allen as part of the faculty for our professional MBA programme.

HSSM&T’s training and capacity building offering will also be widened in scope, with other specialized courses such as – Risk Management, – Criminology & Cyber Safety, and Logistics & Public Safety.

Be security-conscious!

In today’s world of increasing complexities and blurring boundaries, it is extremely costly to leave issues of security to chance. Unlike Enamidem and Ariwo, this is a call to action for everyone not to take security – in all ramifications – for granted. Your peace of mind is not worth negotiating!