An Officer and a gentleman; a man of exceptional courage and conviction; A giant in name and in size; Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR); Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR); Winner of the Nigeria Police Medal (NPM); Member of the National Institute (mni); Fellow of the Royal Institute of Public Administration, England (RIPA); Officer of the City of Atmore, USA; Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), and a Distinguished Citizen of Edo State.

Born in Benin City on 29 September 1936; Young Parry was at ImmaculateConception College, Benin City between 1954 and 1958, he thereafter enlisted into the Nigeria Police and trained as Cadet Inspector at the prestigious Police College, Ikeja from where he graduated in 1960. He had varied professional training at:

• Detective Training School, Wakefield, England;

• Police Staff College, Bramshill;

• Metropolitan Police College, London;

• Police Staff College, Jos;

• Royal Institute of Public Administration, London, and

• National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru near Jos.

Parry Benjamin Osemwegie, 'London Police' as fondly called by very closecompatriots, first tasted of the lot of the peace maker when in 1965 he was drafted to the Government House, Ibadan as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the Governor of then Western Region,  Late Sir  Odeleye  Fadahunsi. He was still at the Government House, Ibadan when the first Military coup d' etat was staged in January, 1966 and thus became the first ADC to Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, First Military Governor of Western Region.

Since that tremulous period of 1966, Parry Osayande has served his country in various capacities. His professional dexterity emerged from the tunnel ofanonymity when he gave exceptional leadership to the Criminal InvestigationDepartment of the River State Police Command. Then he was ChiefSuperintendent of Police. Between 1978 and 1980, as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, he was drafted to his home State to burst the gang of criminals gleefully reveling in an ostensibly successful attempt to rename the then Bendel State as a haven of an untouchable gang of hoodlums at whose mercy all must seek supplication and pay a ransom. He made that bad dream a mirage.

Parry Osayande became a substantive Commissioner of Police in 1984 in charge of Nigeria Police Budget and later Benue State Police Command. And it came to be that from Markudi, a man of courage, a man with fire in his bones, possessing professional dexterity and international reputation was specially drafted to the then Bendel State to stem the rise of deadly gangsters including the infamous Anini. And thus he parried away the deadliest of the shots of criminals and restored confidence in the Nigeria Police Force. He enhanced the status of Bendel State not only as a primus inter pares but also as an enabling environment for economic and social interaction. Upon successful completion of the operation in Bendel State, he was deployed to the then Cross River State as Commissioner of Police.

Parry, a high flyer was elevated from Commissioner of Police to the rank ofDeputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in 1989 and headed the Directorate of Operations (DOP) and Force Intelligence and Investigation Bureau (FIIB) before his retirement. He authored and delivered at different fora, papers on thought provoking issues, amongst which are:

• "The Role of the Nigeria Police in Internal Security of the Nation"
• "The Role of Major Public Utilities in the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in a           Depressed  Economy with Particular Emphasis on The Nigeria Police"
• "Military Professionalism and Rulership in Nigeria- Which Way Forward"
• "The Police, Rule of Law and Human Rights, Perspective in Effective Policing"

In Mathew 5:9, the Lord says, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall becalled the children of God". The child of God we honour today. During the Bauchi riot in 1990, he wrestled with hoodlums who claimed they were inspired by God on High to kill and maim others. Parry Osayande won the contest. In a world where there was strife Parry Osayande brought peace. In 1991 as DIG in charge of Operations, he was again sent to another battle zone in Kano to restore order and peace. Mr. Osayande distinguished himself in quelling the religious inspired riot, for once the 'Yandaba', a band of religious fanatics were routed out.

He proved that there are officers and there are officers, the officer who brings glory to his profession and serves as a beacon of hope, is the officer. Under his beguiling leadership, a Contingent of the Nigeria Police which operated under the United Nations Transition Group (UNTAG) was sent to Namibia. That group monitored the behavior; conduct and activities of the South West Africa Police; Assisted the people of Namibia on the restrictive and discriminatory racist laws of South Africa; Assisted the returnees to settle and engage in electioneering campaigns; Observed the release of political detainees and supervised the withdrawal of South Africa Military Forces from Namibia, after the elections won by SWAPO. During his visit to the Mission in Namibia, as head of the IGP's delegation, then President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma invited Parry to his home at the African Area and urged him to persuade the Government of Nigeria to extend the stay of the Nigeria Contingent for another 3 Months, after the departure of the other 41 Police Contributing Countries. So Parry Osayande moved unto the world stage to distinguish the Nigerian Police and bring glory to his country as confirmed by the Commander of the UNTAG Civilian Police, Commissioner Steve Flanning as reported in Namibia newspaper:-

"The Nigerian Civilian Police component of UNTAG has proved to be the best contingent in monitoring the Namibia transition to independence"

"Commissioner Flanning had words of praise for the 181 Police Officers clad smartly in their dark uniforms now enriched by UN medals"

"You have proved to be excellent monitors; I have never been to Nigeria but through you I know the Country has the best Police force. During this mission, you have earned credit and will be remebered as having been friendly and kind towards Namibians-you are the most hospitable and wonderful people...."

Parry Osayande has served in various Police reform committees. They include:

• 1995 Presidential Committee on the reform of the Nigeria Police Force;

• 2006 Alhaji Danmadami led Presidential Committee on the Reform of the Nigeria Police; and

• The Police Reform Committee set up by President Yardua in 2008, which was chaired by Retired Inspector General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Yusuf, GCON.

• He also served as a member of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Apo Six Killings in 2006.

He was appointed Chairman of the Police Service Commission, which wasinaugurated on 15th of April, 2008. Under his leadership, the Commission resolved to uphold the rule of law and follow due process, justice and equity in all its dealings and deliberations and ensure that the conduct of Police operations, respect and protect the rights of citizens. The Commission has since earned for itself the support and cooperation of members of the Nigeria Police Force through the implementation of some of the plans aimed at repositioning the Force to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

An avid reader and a golf player, Parry Osayande is a dedicated family man and is married to Irene his lovely wife. Their union is blessed with 5 (five) Children, Peter Osawaru Osayande, Edward Ikponwonsa Osayande, Anthony Osato Osayande, Irene Osayuware Osayande and Esosa Peggy Osayande. Parry Osayande is also blessed with five grandchildren who are very dear to him.