The federal government has inaugurated a three-day capacity-building workshop for public relations officers (PROs) of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to boost professionalism, strengthen public trust, and improve communication across all commands.

Inaugurating the workshop on Monday in Abuja, the NCoS Controller-General, Sylvester Nwakuche, said that the training was timely and apt.

Mr Nwakuche said that the training came amidst comprehensive reforms designed to improve efficiency, promote transparency, and reshape public perception of the Service’s mandate.

He stressed that public relations had become a key pillar of the ongoing transformation, noting that the image of any institution was as important as the work it performs.

He said the NCoS had recently taken deliberate steps to strengthen communication channels, expand engagement with stakeholders, and project its core commitments to safe custody, humane treatment, and the reformation of offenders.

The CGC added that one of his early priorities was to upscale the capacity of the PR Unit through increased funding, provision of modern communication tools, and intensified engagement with the media at both national and command levels.

“Effective public relations is not optional; it is an essential driver of our legitimacy, operational transparency, and public confidence,” he said.

Mr Nwakuche noted that the impact of the reforms was already visible, with media coverage of the NCoS becoming more balanced and public understanding of its mandate growing.

He commended the national headquarters PRO for proactive leadership and lauded command-level PROs for their work in crisis communication, community engagement, stakeholder relations, and sustained media visibility.

Describing PROs as “frontline ambassadors” of the Service, he said their diligence had contributed significantly to renewed public confidence in the institution.

He also acknowledged the support of development partners, including Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action (PRAWA), International IDEA, the European Union, and the media, whose contributions made the workshop possible.

He praised the facilitators for providing the expertise needed to strengthen the communication capacity of officers nationwide.

He urged participants at the three-day training to engage actively, share experiences, and apply the knowledge gained upon returning to their respective commands.

(NAN)