News
NYSC DG Tasks Media Officers with Better Image Management, Public Engagement
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.
News
Nigeria at 66: ‘We Must Not Lose Faith in Nigeria’ — FCC Boss Omidiran
Joel Ajayi
The Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Honorable Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the nation’s 66th Independence Anniversary to renew their faith in Nigeria, strengthen national unity and recommit themselves to building a more inclusive and prosperous country.
In her 66th Independence Day message, Hon. Omidiran described October 1 as more than a celebration of freedom, saying the anniversary provides an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the country’s journey, acknowledge its progress and challenges, and renew the collective determination to build a nation where every citizen has a sense of belonging.
According to the FCC Executive Chairman, the Federal Character Principle remains particularly important to the quest for national cohesion because equitable representation promotes a sense of ownership and confidence in the Nigerian project.
“Nigeria is a nation of great diversity and
enormous potential. Our responsibility is to ensure that this diversity becomes a bridge that connects us rather than a barrier that separates us. Every Nigerian deserves to feel that he or she belongs to this country and has a role to play in its development,” Omidiran said.
The FCC boss called on government institutions at all levels to remain committed to fairness, equity, accountability and inclusive governance, while urging citizens to support efforts aimed at strengthening national institutions and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“We must not lose faith in Nigeria. The challenges before us are real, but so are the opportunities and the enormous human and natural resources available to us. Every citizen has a responsibility to contribute his or her own quota to building the Nigeria we desire,” she stated.
The FCC Executive Chairman also urged young Nigerians to remain committed to acquiring knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports and other productive ventures, describing the youth as critical stakeholders in the country’s future.
“As we celebrate 66 years of independence, let us remember that the Nigeria we want cannot be built by government alone. It requires the commitment of all of us – leaders and citizens, young and old, from every part of the federation. Together, we can build a Nigeria where justice, fairness, opportunity and peace are available to all,” she said.
Omidiran reaffirmed the FCC’s commitment to the effective discharge of its constitutional mandate and to supporting efforts that promote equitable representation and inclusive national development across the federation.
The former lawmaker wished Nigerians at home and abroad a peaceful and memorable 66th Independence Anniversary, praying for continued peace, stability, prosperity and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Our differences should never be greater than our common identity as Nigerians. Let us continue to choose unity over division, service over self-interest and hope over despair. The Nigeria of our dreams is possible if we all play our part,” Omidiran said.
“On behalf of the Federal Character Commission, I congratulate all Nigerians on this 66th Independence Anniversary. May this occasion renew our patriotism, strengthen our unity and inspire us to work together for a stronger, more equitable and prosperous Nigeria. May God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she added.
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