4-Day Workshop on Capacity Building for Police PROs Kicks Off in Uyo

A 4-day ‘’Workshop on Capacity Building for Police Public Relations Officers’’ organized by the Nigeria Police Force, in conjunction with the Government of Akwa-Ibom State,  kicks-off today, 17th April, 2013, at Le’ Meridien Hotel, Uyo, the capital city of Akwa-Ibom State.

The Workshop is intended to equip Police Public Relations Officers with requisite professional skills and knowledge in effectively managing the corporate image of the Force in the face of rising extremism, criminality and terrorism in the country. It is expected to emphasize the need for synergy and collaborative efforts among security agencies in the country.

The curriculum of the Workshop is strategically designed to cover training in Media relations, Crisis Communications and Issues Management; Media and Police Public Relations; Perception, Image and Brand management in government agencies; and Terrorism in Democracy and Communication. Also featuring in the intensive training workshop are topics on Public Relations in Police and non-commercial organization, Social role of the Police in the post 9/11 era; and other relevant courses.  

The training workshop which is being facilitated by PRM Africa, a foremost Public Relations and Brand Communications firm in Nigeria, with support from some good spirited private and public institutions, has in attendance, the Director, Defence Information, Brig.-General Chris Olukolade who is leading spokespersons of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Air Force. Also participating in the Workshop are the spokes person of the Department of State Services, Mrs. Marylyn Ogar and other Public Relations managers from the Customs, Immigration, Federal Road Safety Corps, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps.

The participation of other security agencies is a manifestation of the resolve of the present Police Management to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in the fight against crime and criminality in the country. 

The IGP, while addressing participants in his welcome address, commended His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong (Dr) Godswill Akpabio, for his magnanimity in making the Workshop a reality. He informed that the workshop is part of his reform agenda to strategically, reposition the Nigeria Police Force for effective performance in the face of growing security concern in the country. He added that the introduction of capacity building for the Public Relations Department of the Force is aimed at deepening confidence, strengthening relationship with the public and boosting the corporate image of the Nigeria Police; noting that the success of the Police and other security agencies in the fight against crime, depends largely, on the support, cooperation and partnership enjoyed from the public. The IGP advised participants to maximally exploit the advantage of the workshop for the benefit of their respective agencies and the nation at large.

On his part, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Her Honor NOBLE LADY VALERIE EBE, Deputy Governor of Akwa-Ibom State commended the Nigeria Police for their commitment to the security of the country and for organizing the Training Workshop which no doubt will have a positive impact on the efficiency of its services, that of other security agencies and the country at large.

The IGP used the forum to assure Nigerians of the determination of the Force to perform its constitutional and statutory responsibilities without fear or favor, reminding the public of their civic responsibility of providing useful information to the Police and other security agencies.