A four 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.
According to CSP Frank Mba Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters Abuja, 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.
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