The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Friday night inducted 73 Public Relations Officers (PROs) of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Certification and Training Programme for Public Relations Officers (PROs) of the Service in Abuja, the NIS Comptroller General, Kemi Nandap, said professional excellence remained critical to building an operationally efficient NIS.

The event was organised by the NIS in collaboration with the NIPR.

Mrs Nandap, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller General (DCG), Franca Nwanneka, said that it was necessary for the NIS to be professionally respected and globally recognised.

She said the programme underscored the Service’s commitment to building a professional, innovative and service-oriented institution capable of effectively responding to the demands of its evolving operational environment.

She noted that effective communication had become indispensable to institutional success.

She stressed that public relations had evolved beyond information dissemination to become a strategic function for building public trust, protecting institutional reputation and strengthening stakeholder confidence.

“This programme reflects our commitment to building a professional, innovative and service-oriented Nigeria Immigration Service.

“As our operational landscape continues to evolve, effective communication has become indispensable to institutional success.

“NIS has continued to implement far-reaching reforms aimed at enhancing border governance, improving service delivery and leveraging technology to strengthen migration management,” he said.

Mrs Nandap said the reforms could only achieve their full impact when they were effectively communicated to the public, underscoring the vital role of PROs in advancing the Service’s mandate.

She charged the officers to communicate with professionalism, integrity, accuracy and responsibility as custodians of the Service’s image.

“You must proactively tell the Service’s story, promote our achievements, manage crises effectively and reinforce public confidence in our mandate,” she said.

The CGIS urged participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training in their respective commands and formations, noting that their certification should translate into improved performance and more strategic engagement with stakeholders.

She described the certificates awarded to participants as marking the beginning of greater responsibility and challenged them to contribute meaningfully to institutional excellence within the Service.

Mrs Nandap expressed appreciation to the NIPR for partnering with the Service to strengthen the professionalism of its public relations cadre, adding that the collaboration would continue to yield lasting benefits for the institution.

She reaffirmed her commitment to building a Nigeria Immigration Service that is operationally efficient, professionally respected and globally recognised through continuous investment in professionalism, innovation and strategic stakeholder engagement.

She called on officers to remain worthy ambassadors of the Service by upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Earlier, Ike Neliaku, the chairman and president of the Governing Council of the NIPR, charged newly inducted PROs to serve as storytellers, reputation ambassadors and solution providers for both the Service and Nigeria.

Mr Neliaku described the officers as the first image makers of Nigeria to foreigners arriving in the country.

He said that no foreigner comes into Nigeria without interfacing with the NIS at the nation’s borders, making its personnel critical stakeholders in shaping perceptions about the country.

“From today, you are storytellers and narrative shapers of the NIS.

“No foreigner comes into Nigeria without passing through you. That means we are the first image makers for anybody coming into this country.

“People judge Nigeria based on your interface with them once they come in. That is how important you are,” he said.

The NIPR president said that beyond functioning as PROs, the newly inducted officers had become ambassadors entrusted with carrying and projecting the mandate of both the Service and the nation.

He expressed confidence in the quality of training received by the officers, noting that they had been equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to discharge their responsibilities professionally.

In his closing remarks, the Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Akinsola Akinlabi, assured that the knowledge and insights acquired during the training would strengthen the officers’ capacity.

This, he said, would enable them to project the image of the Service with professionalism, credibility and excellence.

He urged participants to translate the lessons learnt during the programme into practical action by communicating the achievements, policies and operations of the Service with accuracy, integrity and responsibility.

“Let us continue to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, embrace innovation and remain committed to communicating the achievements, policies and operations of the Service with accuracy, integrity and responsibility,” he said.

 (NAN)