The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo has commended the Nigerian Army for appointing its officers who are seasoned public relations officers as its spokespersons.
The NIPR Boss spoke at the Army Headquarters in Abuja, when the former army acting Director of Army Public Relations, Col. Aliyu Yusuf handed over to Col. Sagir Musa.
While congratulating the new army spokesperson, Mukhtar Sirajo express regret that quacks, in recent times, have populated the PR profession, thereby tarnishing the image of the profession as a result of their unprofessional conducts.
He said NIPR will soon evolve ways to track quack persons who masquerade as qualified PR practitioners, get them arrested and subsequently prosecuted.
Sirajo, appealed to the newly-inaugurated image-maker to quickly identify effective ways to remodel the face of the army in the face of negative public perception.
“The army deserves tremendous applause for always abiding by the code of ethics guiding public relations practice. If not for anything, I am sure Col. Sagir will like to raise the bar in terms of information and crisis management,” he said.
Meanwhile, the media has been tasked to collaborate with the army so as to tackle the menace of Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, kidnapping, and violent ethno-religious agitations, among other criminalities, Col. Sagir Musa has said.
Col. Musa, the army’s acting Director of Public Relations, pointed out that though the country’s fragile unity is been threatened by the violent activities of outlawed groups, the army remains committed to its statutory mandate of gallantly protecting the nation’s territorial integrity from internal or external aggressions.
He pledged to create a conducive environment that will enable both the army and media to work harmoniously in a manner devoid of animosity, rancor and mutual suspicion.
“Already, machineries have been put in place by our indefatigable Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to strengthen civil, military and media relations. This, to some extent will greatly help us to wipe out criminal elements and religious fundamentalists, among other rebels. To this end, my men at the Public Relations directorate have rededicated themselves and pledged to work assiduously in order to actualize the lofty goals of the Nigerian army”, Col. Musa added.
In a remark shortly before handing over, Col. Yusuf said plans are on-going to digitalize the public relations unit of the army in line with best global standards, and in accordance with the core values and mission statements of the army.
He advised his successor to build on the profound achievements recorded by former army spokespersons.
Also speaking, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), described Col. Musa’s appointment as well-deserved and highly merited, saying it amounts to putting a square peg in a square hole.
He pledged NUJ’s support and partnership, expressing belief that the new army spokesperson, as a seasoned media practitioner, will deliver excellently on his job.
By PRNigeria
