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NYSC DG Tasks Media Officers with Better Image Management, Public Engagement

Published

1 month ago

September 17, 2026

Joel Ajayi

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Olufemi Olalekan Nafiu, has charged Information, Public Relations, Protocol and Media Officers of the Scheme to adopt strategic communication in shaping public perception and strengthening confidence in the organisation.

Nafiu gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja at the opening of the 2026 Combined Public Relations, Protocol and Media Officers’ Workshop organised for NYSC communication personnel.

The Director-General, who was represented by the Director, Community Development Service and Special Projects, Chief Chinwendu Chukwu, said the workshop’s theme, “NYSC Strategic Communication: Shaping Perception, Safeguarding Reputation, and Fostering Public Trust,” was timely and relevant to the changing communication environment.

He said organisations were judged not only by their activities but also by how effectively they communicated their achievements and responded to public concerns.

According to him, strategic communication goes beyond publicity, stressing that it involves informing, engaging, listening and responding in a deliberate and coordinated manner.

He urged NYSC communication officers to ensure that information released to the public was accurate, timely, credible, consistent and responsive.

Nafiu stated the officers as important custodians of the image and reputation of the Scheme, urging them to understand the NYSC mandate, anticipate public concerns, monitor emerging narratives and ensure that accurate information reached the appropriate audiences through the right channels.

He noted that the digital environment had made communication more challenging, as information could travel within seconds while misinformation and disinformation could spread rapidly.

The NYSC boss therefore called for stronger capacity in proactive communication, media monitoring, fact-checking and crisis communication.

“Our response to emerging issues must be prompt, factual, deliberate and coordinated. Silence or delayed communication can create an information vacuum, which others may fill with speculation,” he said.

The Director-General further urged Media Officers to build sustained relationships with journalists and media organisations rather than engaging the media only when there was an event to publicise or a crisis to manage.

He urged the participants to use the workshop to develop practical strategies that would improve the visibility and reputation of the Scheme, particularly in the areas of national unity, youth development, community development, patriotism and national integration.

Also speaking, NYSC Director of Media, Dr Emeka Mgbemena, said the workshop as a wake-up call for communication officers to become more proactive in managing the corporate image of the Scheme.

Mgbemena urged the officers to equip themselves with the requisite skills to effectively package and disseminate the achievements of NYSC while guarding against misinformation.

He said the training was designed to strengthen participants’ capacity to deploy effective public relations strategies in their engagement with the media and other critical stakeholders.

He expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly, diplomatic missions, partner countries, NTAC staff and Nigerian professionals who had contributed to the success of the scheme.

Yakub also appealed to the media to give greater visibility to the contributions of Nigerian professionals abroad, describing their work as an important human face of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

He said NTAC’s objective was to build a more efficient, visible and impactful institution capable of advancing Nigeria’s interests through technical cooperation, professional exchange, skilled labour mobility and soft-power diplomacy.

“Our task is not finished. Indeed, we are only beginning to see the full possibilities of what NTAC can become,” he said.

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DNKI President Champions Humanitarian Service, Sustainable Community Development

Published

10 hours ago

October 21, 2026

The Gleamer

Cyril Samania

The President of De Norsemen Kclub International (DNKI), Chief Oliver Patrick Ityohegh, has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to humanitarian service, stressing the importance of supporting vulnerable people and improving community welfare beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day.

Ityohegh stated this during the organisation’s Cauldron Night and Award Presentation held to commemorate its 2026 Humanitarian Day celebration, theme: “Humanity First: Advancing Hope, Dignity and Community Well-being.” organised by the DNKI Abuja Chapter.

He emphasised that humanitarian service should be a continuous responsibility driven by compassion, solidarity and a commitment to making a meaningful difference in society.

According to him, DNKI’s humanitarian activities reflect its dedication to giving back to society and supporting people in need, while encouraging members to sustain initiatives that promote human dignity and community well-being.

He added that the organisation would continue to strengthen its humanitarian engagements through practical interventions aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable people and promoting community development.

Speaking at the event, the representative of the Abuja Chapter Chairman and Chairman of its Advisory Council, Prince Efiong Okpe, said the organisation’s humanitarian activities extended beyond the annual celebration of Humanitarian Day on October 15.

Okpe explained that DNKI undertook several initiatives throughout the year, including blood donation exercises, visits to hospitals and correctional centres, as well as support for orphanages and other vulnerable groups.

According to him, the organisation also collaborated with humanitarian bodies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to identify areas of need and provide assistance within its available resources.

He described Humanitarian Day as an opportunity for members to renew their commitment to service and demonstrate solidarity with people facing difficult circumstances.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee and Coordinator of the DNKI Gwagwalada Zone, Mr Etudaiye Hamzat, disclosed that the chapter had provided financial assistance to some members to help pay their children’s school fees, alongside distributing bags of rice and other relief items to members experiencing hardship.

Hamzat explained that the interventions followed concerns over the difficulties some members faced in meeting their family responsibilities, particularly the rising cost of their children’s education.

He maintained that supporting members in need was consistent with the organisation’s humanitarian principles, adding that DNKI remained committed to extending assistance to non-members and vulnerable communities as part of its commitment to leading by example.

Looking ahead, Hamzat said the Abuja Chapter planned to expand its humanitarian outreach to remote communities within the FCT, with particular attention to orphanages, schools and widows facing difficulties in meeting their family responsibilities.

He also recalled previous interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs), which included the distribution of food, clothing and educational materials, noting that the chapter intended to scale up such initiatives in the coming year.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of awards to outstanding members and distinguished non-members in recognition of their contributions to humanitarian service.

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