The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted 73 Public Relations Officers (PROs) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) after completing a specialised certification and training programme aimed at improving communication and professional standards within the Service.
The induction ceremony, held in Abuja on Friday, was organised through a partnership between the NIS and the NIPR.
Representing the Comptroller General of Immigration, Kemi Nandap, at the closing ceremony, Deputy Comptroller General Franca Nwanneka said professional competence was essential to achieving a more effective and respected Immigration Service.
She noted that the training reflected the NIS’s commitment to developing an innovative, professional and service-driven institution capable of meeting the challenges of a changing operational environment.
According to her, communication has become a key component of institutional growth, adding that modern public relations goes beyond sharing information to include reputation management, public trust building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.
She said ongoing reforms by the NIS, including efforts to improve border management, enhance service delivery and adopt technology in migration administration, would only produce maximum results when properly communicated to Nigerians and other stakeholders.
Nandap urged the newly certified officers to uphold professionalism, integrity and accuracy while serving as representatives of the Service.
She tasked them with promoting the achievements of the NIS, managing crises effectively and strengthening public confidence in the organisation’s mandate.
The Comptroller General advised the officers to apply the skills gained from the programme in their various commands, stressing that their certification should lead to improved performance and stronger engagement with the public.
She also commended the NIPR for partnering with the Service to strengthen its public relations department, describing the collaboration as an investment that would continue to benefit the institution.
Earlier, the President and Chairman of the NIPR Governing Council, Ike Neliaku, described the newly inducted officers as important image managers for both the Immigration Service and Nigeria.
Neliaku said immigration officers serve as the first point of contact for many foreigners entering the country, making their conduct and communication crucial in shaping global perceptions of Nigeria.
He charged the officers to become effective storytellers, reputation managers and solution providers who would positively project the image of the NIS.
“From today, you are storytellers and narrative shapers of the NIS,” he said, adding that people often form opinions about Nigeria based on their experiences with immigration personnel at entry points.
The NIPR president expressed confidence that the training had equipped the officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to perform their roles effectively.
In his remarks, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Akinsola Akinlabi, said the lessons and experiences gained during the programme would improve the officers’ ability to communicate the activities and policies of the NIS with professionalism and credibility.
He encouraged participants to apply the knowledge acquired by accurately reporting the Service’s achievements and operations while maintaining integrity and responsibility.
Akinlabi urged them to embrace innovation and continue upholding high standards in their duties as communication representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service.