…pledges to upgrade NASPRI to global standards
By Victor Akaa
The Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Oluyemi Oluyede, emphasized the crucial role of the media in promoting national security. General Oluyede stated this whilst declaring open the Directorate of Army Public Relations/Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information Media Workshop 2024 at NASPRI Headquarters in Giri, Abuja on Tuesday.
Represented by the Chief of Civil Military Affairs, Major General Nosakhare Ugbo, the Acting COAS noted that the media’s influence is a key factor in determining the success of military operations. Speaking on the theme, “Leveraging Digital/Social Media Influence for Effective Military Operations Within a Joint Environment,” General Oluyede said the aim is to enhance collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the media.
General Oluyede stressed that the media’s role in shaping public perception and garnering support for military operations cannot be overstated. He urged participants to ensure that the synergy between the Army and the media is maintained and enhanced.
“It is important to note that the war in the twenty-first century, though fought on battlefields, is won or lost in the media domain. This is why the importance of the media for a successful military operation cannot be overemphasized,” he noted.
General Oluyede also reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to defending the nation and ensuring democratic stability. He pledged to modernize the equipment and state-of-the-art facilities at the NASPRI, elevating its standards to a global level.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic guidance and support. General Oluyede encouraged media practitioners to consider it their responsibility to propagate the message of peace and national security.
Earlier, the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, emphasized the importance of effective information management in contemporary military operations. He noted that the workshop aimed to enhance the relationship between the Nigerian Army, the media, and the public.
Major General Nwachukwu commended the media for their timely reportage of the military’s successes and achievements, while also charging them to redouble their efforts.
He expressed concern over the lukewarm attitude towards the military by some sections of the media, which has generated public concern and debate. The Director also warned about the potential threat to national security posed by social media influencers who spread hoaxes or distorted information about the military.
General Nwachukwu thanked the COAS for approving the upgrading of NASPRI to a world-class training institution.
In his welcome address, the Acting Commandant NASPRI, Lieutenant Colonel AY Ngulde, said the institution has trained over 4500 students since its inception in April 2010.
He noted that the school has reviewed its curriculum to accommodate new ideas in public relations practice and information management, including collaborations with renowned professors and doctors from the University of Abuja to enhance the training and teaching of its students.
The 4-day workshop brought together personnel of the Directorate of Army Public Relations, its PROs across all the unit and formation of the Nigerian Army, and PROs of other security agencies, academia, media practitioners, resource persons, and other stakeholders to discuss the importance of digital influence in promoting national security.
