By Nkechi Eze
The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, has tasked Public Relations Officers (PROs) of the Scheme to adopt proactive communication strategies and intensify efforts to counter misinformation capable of undermining its reputation.
Nafiu gave the charge in Abuja at the 2026 Public Relations, Media and Protocol Officers Workshop, with the theme, “NYSC Strategic Communication: Shaping Perception, Safeguarding Reputation, and Fostering Public Trust.”
According to an official statement signed by the Director, Information and Public Relations, NYSC, Caroline Embu, the Director General, who was represented by the Director, Community Development Services and Special Projects, Mr Chiwendu Chukwu, said effective communication must go beyond publicity to include informing, engaging, listening and responding to stakeholders.
He stressed that communication by the Scheme must be “accurate, timely, credible, consistent and responsive,” urging PROs to anticipate public concerns, monitor emerging narratives and ensure that accurate information reaches the right audience through the appropriate channels.
Nafiu also charged the officers to strengthen their capacity in proactive communication, media monitoring, fact-checking and crisis communication, while using digital platforms to showcase the NYSC’s contributions to national development.
The Director General described communication professionals as key custodians of the Scheme’s image and reputation, urging them to have a thorough understanding of the NYSC mandate and remain vigilant against narratives that could misrepresent its activities.
Also speaking, the Director, Media Department, Mr Emeka Mgbemena, urged the officers to intensify efforts to counter misinformation and misleading narratives targeting the Scheme, particularly on social media.
Mgbemena said the rapidly evolving digital media landscape, characterised by misinformation, misuse of social media, junk journalism and under-reporting, had made it necessary for NYSC Information Managers to continually update their communication skills.
“We must work with the highest degree of professionalism. We must be proactive and not reactive; we need to effectively tell our stories and guard against misinformation,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, urged NYSC PROs to uphold best practices in corporate communication and deploy effective reputation management strategies to strengthen public perception of the Scheme.
The workshop was attended by Public Relations, Media and Protocol Officers from the 36 state secretariats, the Federal Capital Territory and the NYSC National Directorate Headquarters, Abuja.
