NAF Tasks Information Officers to Leverage Strategic Communication for Operational Success

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has tasked its Information Officers with leveraging strategic communication to enhance operational effectiveness, manage crises and strengthen public confidence in the Service.

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, gave the charge at the opening of the 2026 Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI) Annual Media Workshop and Meeting with Information Officers held at NAF Headquarters, Abuja.

The two-day workshop, themed, “Enhancing Strategic Media Operations of NAF Public Relations and Information Personnel Through Capacity Building in Crisis Management Skills,” is aimed at strengthening the communication capabilities of NAF personnel amid an increasingly complex security and media environment.

Aneke, who was represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Air Vice Marshal AY Abdullahi, described the theme as timely, noting that the rapid spread of news, misinformation, disinformation and hostile narratives posed significant challenges to military operations and public confidence.

He said effective public communication had moved beyond being merely supportive to becoming an operational necessity that contributed directly to mission success.

The CAS therefore charged NAF Information Officers to see themselves as strategic communicators responsible for shaping public understanding of military operations, projecting professionalism, protecting institutional credibility and strengthening public trust.

He stressed that operational success must not only be achieved but also communicated purposefully, responsibly and effectively to internal and external audiences.

According to him, strategic communication remains central to his Command Philosophy, which prioritises professionalism, operational effectiveness and institutional excellence.

He said the workshop was designed to improve participants’ competencies in strategic communication, crisis management, media relations, digital engagement and information management.

The CAS urged the participants to translate the knowledge acquired into improved professional performance across NAF formations and units.

Earlier, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the rapidly evolving media environment and increasing complexity of security operations had made continuous professional development imperative for public relations and information personnel.

Ejodame said the responsibility of Information Officers went beyond disseminating information, stressing the need to ensure that every communication builds understanding, reinforces confidence and supports the operational objectives of the Service.

He added that the workshop would enhance participants’ capacity to communicate effectively before, during and after crises, while ensuring that NAF communication remained 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, who provided insights into contemporary media operations, strategic communication and information management during crises.

The workshop also brought together former NAF spokespersons, including Air Commodore Yusuf Anas (Rtd.), Air Commodore Ozomina (Rtd.), Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya (Rtd.) and Air Vice Marshal Ibikunle Daramola (Rtd.), as well as Branch Chiefs, serving spokespersons and Information Officers from NAF formations and units across the country.

Their participation provided opportunities for institutional knowledge transfer, professional interaction and experience sharing on managing complex information environments and sensitive security communications.

The workshop is part of ongoing efforts by DOPRI to strengthen the professional capacity of NAF public relations personnel, improve the Service’s ability to counter misinformation, engage stakeholders effectively and manage communication during crises.

With the security environment becoming increasingly complex, the workshop is expected to further strengthen a responsive, credible and strategically aligned communication architecture capable of supporting NAF operations, institutional confidence and national security objectives.