NSCDC Strategises To Enhance Staff Capacity

In a bid to further enhance and equip its state commandants and their public relations officers in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT with crucial skills needed to advance their knowledge about effective public relations, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is set to commence a three-day intensive strategic communication training that would help its key officers understand the new media ecosystem.

The intensive strategic training with the theme; “Managing Sensitive Conflict Communication Amidst Rising Insecurity for Organisational Development,” is slated for November 2 to 4, 2022 at the corps’ national headquarters, Sauka, Abuja.

A statement by the corps director, public relations, DCC Olusola Odumosu, explained that the conference, which is the first of its kind, is at the instance of the commandant-general, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, whose administration places high premium on training and growth.

Dumosu said the workshop was aimed at updating media officers and commandants of the corps with the requisite tools to stay abreast with the 21st century public relations strategies.

“Because today’s media has changed the dynamics of influence and put power in the hands of the ordinary people, we must now engage in the conversation through various new channels and tools. Hence, the need for this workshop,” he said.

Odumosu further said the choice of all state commandants and their spokesmen became necessary to enable them prepare their various commands for the media challenges presented by the modern age, adding that improving their capacity would position them to represent the corps and effectively promote their activities.

He expressed optimism that the conference would also expose participants who are major stakeholders and gatekeepers of the corps to the ideals of actualising the agency’s mandate through effective repositioning and good communication approaches.

According to the statement, other areas of emphasis include strategic sensitive conflict communications during the forthcoming 2023 general and other crisis situations; partnership as important tool for overcoming the mutual suspicion between security agencies and the general public; counting the cost of injurious reporting and managing its consequences, among others.

Resource persons selected for the conference are from core professionals in the media, academia and security experts.

He said at the end of the interactive and brainstorming workshop, a communique will be developed and submitted to the management of the corps on standard-operating-procedures and best practices to be adopted in line with global trends.