Stakeholders have called on the Nigerian Military to use proactive approach as part of efforts to resolve conflicts in the country.
They made the call in Abuja during a one-day capacity building workshop themed; “Proactive Conflict Sensitive Communication and Defence Information: Emerging Issues and Strategies in Media Relations,” for Public Relations and Information Officers in the Armed Forces.
The Resource Person, Dr Okey Ikechukwu said “Brand transformation is what is needed by the military in conflict resolution.”
Dr Ikechukwu added that to be “Proactive is to create or control a situation rather than react to happenings adding that the level of strategy, the duty of the conflict-sensitive communicator is to design interventions in order to create an understanding where none exists among other points.”
He said the benefits of media partnership, which is a collaboration between two or more organizations to project content, should offer conflict resolution.
The Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff represented by the Chief of policy and planning Defence Headquarters, Air Marshal Dahiru Sanda said “The one-day training is aimed at further expanding the knowledge base of information officers and the involving technique of information management.”
He commended the Nigerian Armed Forces Information and Public Relation officers for the good job they have been doing in information management and non-kinetic operation to surmount security threats in the country
The Assistant Director Defence Information, Air Vice Marshal Wap Magida said “The training came at the right time when the country is facing insurgency, banditry and crime.”
According to the Chief Executive of Media Today International, Mr. Charles Odenigbo, the media is at the receiving end and so the military needs to be conscious when dealing with the public.
Mr Odenigbo noted that the Armed Forces have been over stretched adding that; “The facts remain that people are angry in Nigeria concerning the insecurity in different parts of the country.
‘The question is who is to engage them and that is why fake news trends most times.”
“Media is the pivot in sending information,” adding that; “Media can set an agenda but in setting it what will the Armed Forces of Nigeria do, will the Armed Forces will be reacting or being proactive.”
PIAK
