Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru has stated that for every crisis situation there is always a need to have a reassuring voice to calm down nerves and build mutual trust and Confidence.
The Army Chief who was represented by Chief of Policy and Plans Army, Major General Benjamin Ohanatu stated this while declaring open a 3-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Public Relations Officers of the Nigerian Army holding at the Nigerian Army Resources Centre, Mambila Barracks, Abuja.
General Attahiru challenged the participants to “develop and deploy act in science of conflict sensitive communication at all times, maintaining credibility and respectability with different groups, institutions, personalities, for a good cooperate image of the Nigerian army”
“It is increasingly important that military communication in an appropriate, timely accurate and responsive manner own its role, objectives and missions, this is what compels this workshop. We are serious on equipping you all with the right capacity required to be on top of the situation”
“The multiple security challenges facing the country has increased the Nigerian army’s task as a defender of national interest.In view of the rising emergency across the country, the Nigerian army is required to be proactive and responsive to information and public relations management and practices. Our duty as a military is to neutralize the threat that the adversary poses to peace, stability of our country by ensuring that they are separated from the population” said COAS.
Earlier in his welcome Address, the Executive Secretary Centre for Crisis, Communication, Retired Air Commodore Yusuf Anas said the army is constantly playing a pivotal role in crisis management.
“This Workshop was carefully chosen in view of the recurring issues of terrorism, insurgency, armed banditry, herders-farmers clashes, kidnappings and several other forms of criminal activities fuelled by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons plaguing our country in several fronts. Gladly, the Nigerian Army is constantly playing a pivotal rule towards eliminating these criminal vices thereby enhancing peace and stability in Nigeria”
“The Centre for Crisis Communication believes that security matters and issues should not be politicized as we have noticed some individuals and groups in Nigeria regularly engaged in castigating the security agencies. We therefore call on leaders at all levels and the public to solidly rally behind the security agencies and encourage them to eradicate most of the current security challenges bedevilling our country. A core function of the Centre for Crisis Communication is Training and Capacity Building. This is in recognition of the importance of evolving capable hands and professional officers to take charge of information management and public relations of key government and private organisations in Nigeria” said Anas.
In his part the Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Mohammed Yerima appreciated the COAS for the importance he attaches to the development of officers.
“This training workshop is aimed at enhancing the capacity of the participants to surmount the challenges of communicating the activities and operations of the Nigerian army as public relations officers” said the Army Spokes man.
The 3-Day Capacity Building Workshop for Public Relations Officers of the Nigerian Army has as its theme: ‘Repositioning the Nigerian Army Public Relations Towards Addressing contemporary Communication Challenges’ and is organized by the Public Relations Department of the Army.
Ime N
