The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has inducted 73 of its Public Relations Officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) following the successful completion of a professional certification programme designed to strengthen strategic communication and enhance professional public relations practice within the Service.
The induction ceremony, held at the NIS National Headquarters in Abuja, forms part of the Service’s broader efforts to institutionalise strategic communication and professionalise its Public Relations cadre in line with global best practices.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mrs. Kemi Nandap, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Visa and Residency, Florence U. Nwanneka, urged the newly inducted officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in carrying out their responsibilities.
She emphasised the critical role of public relations officers in proactively managing public perception, combating misinformation, responding effectively during crises and strengthening public confidence in the Nigeria Immigration Service as it continues to implement technology-driven reforms in migration management and border governance.
Nwanneka also commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations for partnering with the Service to deepen professional public relations practice and build institutional communication capacity.
The President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku, formally inducted the officers into the Institute and encouraged them to remain committed to ethics, professionalism and continuous learning, describing these values as fundamental to effective public relations practice.
In his closing remarks, the Service Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Immigration Akinsola Akinlabi, described the certification and induction programme as another demonstration of the Comptroller-General’s commitment to capacity building and the standardisation of public relations practice across the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He urged the newly inducted officers to apply the knowledge and professional skills acquired during the programme to strengthen public engagement, improve strategic communication and effectively project the Service’s core mandates of migration management and border governance.
The Nigeria Immigration Service stated that the training and induction reflect its continued commitment to professional development through strategic partnerships and specialised capacity-building initiatives aimed at improving service delivery and public trust.
