By Our Reporter
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, has urged Nigerian Air Force (NAF) information officers to sharpen strategic communication to counter hostile narratives and support operational success.
Aneke gave the charge on Monday at the opening of the 2026 Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Annual Media Workshop and Meeting with Information Officers at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.
The two-day workshop is themed: “Enhancing Strategic Media Operations of NAF Public Relations and Information Personnel Through Capacity Building in Crisis Management Skills.”
The CAS, represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdullahi, described the theme as timely, given the increasingly complex and contested information environment.
He said the rapid spread of news, misinformation, disinformation and hostile narratives presented significant challenges to military operations and public confidence.
Aneke said effective public communication had moved beyond being merely supportive to becoming an operational necessity that contributed directly to mission success.
He charged Information Officers to recognise their responsibility as strategic communicators in shaping public understanding of NAF operations.
According to him, they must project professionalism, protect institutional credibility and strengthen public trust through timely, responsible and effective communication.
“Operational success must not only be achieved; it must also be communicated purposefully, responsibly and effectively to our internal and external audiences,” Aneke said.
He said strategic communication remained integral to his Command Philosophy, which emphasised professionalism, operational effectiveness and institutional excellence.
The CAS said the workshop was designed to strengthen participants’ competencies in strategic communication, crisis management, media relations, digital engagement and information management.
He urged the participants to translate the knowledge gained into improved professional performance across NAF formations and units.
Earlier, the Director of Public Relations and Information, NAF Headquarters, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said continuous professional development had become imperative for information personnel.
Ejodame said the rapidly evolving media environment and increasing complexity of security operations required NAF communicators to constantly update their skills.
He said their responsibility went beyond disseminating information to ensuring that every communication built understanding, reinforced confidence and supported operational objectives.
“Our responsibility goes beyond disseminating information; we must ensure that every communication builds understanding, reinforces confidence and supports the operational objectives of the Nigerian Air Force,” he said.
Ejodame said the workshop would improve participants’ ability to communicate effectively before, during and after crises.
He stressed that NAF communication must remain credible, timely, coordinated and strategically aligned with operational objectives.
A major highlight of the opening session was a paper delivered by the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Alhaji Baba Ndache, on contemporary media operations, strategic communication and information management during crises.
The workshop also brought together former NAF spokespersons, including retired Air Commodores Yusuf Anas and Ozomina, and retired Air Vice Marshals Olatokunbo Adesanya and Ibikunle Daramola.
Their participation provided an opportunity for institutional knowledge transfer, professional interaction and experience-sharing on managing complex information environments.
The workshop is part of DOPRI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the professional capacity of NAF public relations and information personnel.
It is also aimed at enhancing the Service’s capacity to counter misinformation, engage stakeholders effectively and manage communication during crises.
The NAF said the workshop would reinforce a responsive, credible and strategically aligned communication architecture capable of supporting operational effectiveness and national security objectives.
