2023: CCC Chairman, Ex-Army Spokesman Advocate Strategic Information, Security Management
The Chairman, Centre for Crisis Communications (CCC) and former Director, Defence Information (DDI), General Chris Olukolade has urged public relations practitioners to do more than just information dissemination
The former defence spokesman said PR officers should be able to predict trends and be strategic in communication.
He gave the advice during the closing ceremony of the Nigeria Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), 2022 Media Workshop, held in Lagos.
According to him, “PR officers should be able to study trends, that is, to understand what is going on around; predict their consequences and then counsel their organizational leaders on tackling it.
“They should also proffer likely consequence and see how they can get out of it. It is not just about seating and reporting.
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“Public relations is a strategic communication model. It is purposeful way to be able to communicate in the way that will engage the citizens to come along with your direction and to see how subsequent communication or management of national security will fulfill needed purposes that can enhance National Security”.
On his part, another former Army Spokesman, Brigadier Sani Usman Kukasheka (rtd), maintained that PR officers should always add value to their organisation.
He said: “For those of you in the Public Relations practices, believe me, what Gen. Olukolade and the guest speaker have told you about the roles of PR, it is not enough for you to just be a high flying PR practitioners if you’re not adding value and not guiding the system into the right direction.
“You make sure you guide, promote and protect your organisation with all the necessary PR tools.
“You should note that any indictment of the system you represent or the value system, it is a personal indictment on your reputation.”
The workshop, among other things, seeks to create an enabling environment for interaction and cross-fertilization of ideas by experts on the contemporary management of information and security ahead of the 2023 general elections.
By PRNigeria
