The Executive Secretary of CCC, Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (rtd) stated this at a workshop for public relations and information officers of security agencies on techniques of public relations, press release writing, media engagement and press campaign, at CCC conference hall, in Abuja.

He said the centre for Crisis Communication was established to facilitate a unified information sharing process and procedures with strategic stakeholders in public relations and crisis management.

“Indeed, in recognition of the Centre’s modest efforts, we received the International Public Relations Association’s Golden Award at its annual conference held in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2017.

“Today’s event is therefore another important occasion bench-marking exclusive training and capacity-building initiative for officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), the Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Customs Service” he added.

Also speaking at the event the Chairman of Board of CCC, General Chris Olukolade, said the programme is anchored on the recent collaboration between the Centre and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) towards expanding the training modules for spokespersons of critical institutions.

General Olokolade who is also Chairman of NIPR’s Disciplinary and Enforcement committee, said the Institute has evolved strict punitive measures to deal with unqualified PR practitioners.

“We are calling on officers responsible for information management in corporate organisations and public institutions to ensure they are registered and accredited with the NIPR to avoid flouting the law.

“There are laid down rules for appointing spokespersons in corporate organisations in Nigeria; the law establishing NIPR makes it a criminal offence for anybody to practise public relations by whatever name without certification or licensed by NIPR.

“The NIPR will soon arraign and prosecute persons and agencies that violate the law in appointment of spokesperson.”

Other Speakers at the workshop included Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu Defence Spokesperson and Chairman Forum of Spokesperson of SEcurity and Response Agencies (FOSSRA); Mal. Sule Yau Sule, Chairman NIPR Membership Committee NIPR; Barrister Charles Odenigbo, a respected journalist; Jaafar Jaafar, Social Media Influencer and Yushau A. Shuaib, a Crisis Communicator (PRNigeria)