The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has called on its Public Relations Officers (PROs) to enhance the Scheme's strategic communication drive in order to protect its reputation among stakeholders globally. This was stated by the NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, during the 2026 Public Relations, Media and Protocol Officers Workshop held in Abuja.
The NYSC Director General described the theme of the workshop, “NYSC Strategic Communication: Shaping Perception, Safeguarding Reputation, and Fostering Public Trust,” as apt, timely and strategic. He noted that strategic communication involves informing, engaging, listening and responding to stakeholders in a deliberate and coordinated manner.
General Nafiu, who was represented at the event by the Director, Community Development Services and Special Projects, Mr Chiwendu Chukwu, urged the PROs to have a thorough understanding of the NYSC mandate. He also charged them to anticipate public concerns, monitor emerging narratives and ensure that accurate information reaches the right audience through the right channel at the right time.
The Director, Media Department, Mr Emeka Mgbemena, welcomed the officers and emphasized the need for them to remain vigilant in countering misinformation and misleading narratives targeted at the Scheme on social media. He said the workshop was organised to equip Information Managers with the skills and knowledge required to deploy effective Public Relations strategies.
Mgbemena further charged the officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in managing the reputation of the Scheme at the State Secretariats and the National Directorate Headquarters. He urged them to be proactive and not reactive, and to effectively tell their stories and guard against misinformation.
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, also addressed the officers, charging them to sustain best practices in corporate communication and deploy effective reputation management strategies to improve public perception of the Scheme. He emphasized that organisations are built deliberately through consistent efforts and not by chance.
The workshop, which was attended by Public Relations, Media and Protocol Officers from the 36 State Secretariats, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja, aimed to equip the officers with the requisite tools, skills and knowledge needed to effectively boost the Scheme’s image through what they package for public consumption.
Key points
- The NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has charged the Scheme's Public Relations Officers (PROs) to strengthen its strategic communication drive.
- The workshop aimed to equip Information Managers with the skills and knowledge required to deploy effective Public Relations strategies.
- The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, emphasized the need for sustained best practices in corporate communication and effective reputation management strategies.
