By Odili Christel
Social media has been widely adopted as a means of mass information distribution, and its importance to information warfare has been found useful in its accessibility,
and breadth of content of Dissemination of knowledge.
In view of this, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has called on Public Relations Personnel of the Nigerian Air Force to ensure they use the available advantages offered by the social media for the benefit of the Nigerian Air Force.
The CAS made the call while declaring open the Nigerian Air Force Directorate of Public Relations and Information Conference 2017, themed, “Social Media in Modern Public Relations Practice”, he noted that, the Public Relations Specialty in the Nigerian Air Force has evolved from being a relatively passive specialty to a more dynamic and active one that now plays a significant role in the day-to-day running of the Nigerian Air Force.
While commending significant roles of social media in ensuring that it activities reach its targeted audience on time, the CAS also expressed his dissatisfaction over the use of social media by some elements to spread falsehood, in addition to promoting hate speeches, violence, anarchy and confusion in the society, as recently identified by the Federal Government.
According to him, “The message of hate and violence does not augur well for the development of our dear nation and I therefore implore all relevant stakeholders to continue to focus on the use of the social media to inform, educate and entertain, as originally intended. I therefore implore all relevant stakeholders to continue to focus on the use of the social media to inform, educate and entertain, as originally intended”.
The CAS further urged all relevant stakeholders to continue to focus on the use of the social media to inform, educate and entertain, as originally intended, and ensure building capacities, as individuals, and as a body.
Also speaking, the Chief of Administration, Air Vice Marshal Lawal Alao expressed confidence that the Conference would provide participants the needed atmosphere to learn more on how best to utilize the social media to the advantage of the Nigerian Air Force. He noted that the social media has evolved to become a fast and effective medium for any organization willing to sell itself to the general public.
AVM Alao pledged his continuous support to the Directorate of Public Relations and Information in attaining the vision that has been so clearly set by the Chief of the Air Staff.
Earlier in his address, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Cormmodore Olatokunbo Adesanya disclosed that the conference is coming at a time when The need for an interface between the Directorate of Public Relations and Information and its field personnel to intimate them on current expectations and subsequently chart the way forward as to the media agenda of the Nigerian Air Force.
He noted that, social media provides the tool for real time engagement of the public. His Word, “Public Relations is now about creating value to generate awareness instead of creating awareness to generate value”
The DOPRI further reiterated the Directorate’s loyalty and determination to work assiduously more than ever before to enable the Chief of the Air Staff succeed in his effort to take the Nigerian Air Force to greater heights.