The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, commenced the 4-day Police Public Relations Officers Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on Monday, December 11th, 2023.
The collaborative initiative with the German Government Federal Foreign Office via the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) seeks to bolster strategic communication within the law enforcement sector, garnering support from various stakeholders.
Themed “Enhanced Strategic Communication: Panacea for Effective Policing in Nigeria,” the conference focuses on refining communication strategies within the law enforcement community to address prevailing challenges and bridge communication gaps between the Police and the public.
Its objective is to empower Police Public Relations Officers with the requisite skills to cultivate positive relationships between the force and citizens.
During the event, the Honourable Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi, highlighted the imperative of adapting communication strategies to dispel misconceptions about the Nigerian Police Force (NPF).
Additionally, the Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Sen. (Dr.) Ibrahim Gaidam, CON, and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Dr. Solomon E. Arase, CFR, pledged to pursue policies aiding the NPF’s reshaping under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
On his part, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Bassey Eno, declared the conference open, affirming continuous support for the Police as a crucial instrument in securing the state’s populace, fundamental for its progress and development.
While speaking, the IGP expressed gratitude for the Governor’s support, stressing the significance of collaborative efforts between the Police and the State Government for effective policing.
Distinguished guests at the event included DIG South-South, DIG Daniel Sokari Pedro, mni; AIG Jonathan Towuru, mni, AIG Zone 6 Calabar; CP Durosimi Olatoye, Commissioner of Police in charge of Akwa Ibom; Comrade Chris Isiguzo, MFR, President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Prof Emmanuel Dandaura, Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, National Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), among others.
As part of the visit, IGP Egbetokun commissioned several projects at the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, including a smart conference hall. Addressing officers, he urged a people-friendly policing approach for inclusivity and cohesion.
The conference aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, discussions, peer reviews, and skill enhancement, ultimately strengthening the bond between the Police Force and Nigerian citizens.
