FIC Report (Lagos State) – The Nigeria institute of public relations (NIPR) Lagos chapter held it’s Annual General Meeting were communication professionals, security experts, academia, policy makers and corporate leaders gathered at the muson centre, onikan, Lagos, for the grand finale of Lagos PR Fest 2026.
The week -long festival of professionals, educational, sporting and networking activities was held under the theme: “Security, nation building and public trust: fostering collective responsibility through strategic public relations”
The chairman of Lagos State chapter NIPR, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, said the institute deliberately chose the theme, to reposition communication as a central pillar of Nigeria’s security architecture.
According to him, discussions around nation’s security have traditionally focused on military capabilities, equipment and operations while overlooking the vital role of communication, public relations and trust.
Dr Ayetutu emphasised that public relations is not merely supportive to security operations but an essential operational tool that builds confidence between institutions and citizens.
He noted that intelligence gathering depends on citizens who trust security agencies enough to provide information, while compliance with security directions depends largely on credible, transparent and strategic communication.
In his address, the inspector general of police, Olatunji Riwan Disu, represented by Simeon Udofia Akpanudom, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), force criminal investigation department ANNEX Alagbon close, Ikoyi, Lagos, described strategic public relations as the bedrock of effective nation building and sustainable national security.
The IGP stressed that modern security challenges require collaboration between government institutions, the media, communication professionals and citizens, noting that security can no longer be achieved through force alone but through trust , transparency and shared responsibility.
He identified several priority necessary for strengthening public trust including rebuilding institutions credibility through evidence – based communication, promoting transparency and accountability across public institutions; strengthening grassroot engagement for intelligence gathering; expanding youth participation in security conversations , promoting unified national messaging that transcends ethnic and religious divisions and deepening collaboration among government institutions, security agencies and the media during crises.
He commended the Lagos State chapter of NIPR for convening a timely national conversation capable of strengthening trust between institutions and the public.
Sourced by ;
Juliet Chinyere Ujowundu
Assistants Director Inf . & NIPR
16 / 07 / 2026
