Nigeria’s Interior Ministry has on Saturday, July 26, 2025, held an intensive media masterclass for Public Relations Officers (PROs) and media teams under its umbrella.
Themed: “Beyond Press Statements: Media as a Tool for Public Engagement,” the masterclass was organised to set a new benchmark for government communication standards.
According to Babatunde Alao, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Minister of Interior, the session was designed to equip service media teams with the latest industry experience in image making and crisis management.
11:30 am — Media is not a lazy man job, Interior Minister
Speaking during the event, the special guest of honour, Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, whose reformist vision has driven several initiatives around digitalisation, internal security, and inter-agency synergy within the ministry, stressed the importance of professionalism and clarity in public communication.
He emphasized that PROs must be prepared to articulate and defend their work effectively.
“Media is not a profession for the lazy,” he notes, urging Public Relations Officers to adopt a data-driven, proactive, and strategic approach to their roles.
12:40 p.m. Beyond Press Statements: Building a Micro Newsroom as a Service — Seun Okinbaloye, Presenter, Channels TV
Channels Television presenter Seun Okinbaloye delivered a session on “Building a Micro Newsroom as a Service,” where he emphasized the evolving role of Public Relations Officers in the digital media age.
Okinbaloye’s presentation focused on the importance of headline clarity, stating that both the headline and the lead paragraph of any report should capture all critical angles of the story.
His insights offered valuable lessons for public relations officers navigating the evolving media terrain, highlighting the importance of adaptability, precision, and creativity in crafting compelling narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
“Keep your reports or public briefings concise, three paragraphs are enough. It’s the job of journalists to turn them into lengthier stories,” he advised.
Okinbaloye revisited the fundamentals of news reporting, the purpose of a newsroom, and the crucial roles Public Relations Officers play in shaping public narratives.
In a practical exercise, he divided participants into groups, tasking them with a five-minute brainstorming session to define news, identify newsroom components, and outline PRO duties. Each group after the exercise presented their ideas within a minute, sparking lively collaboration and insightful contributions.
During the presentations, Seun also emphasized that everyone in the newsroom matters, as significant stories can emerge from unexpected angles.
He advised participants to communicate in news languages relevant to their field and concludes with professional advice: pay attention to details and work across media platforms to keep the public informed about their agency’s operations.
2:20 p.m. Beyond Press Statement: Media and Crisis Communication. Lessons for Service PROs — Basheer Hassan, GM Business Day, Northern Operations
Media expert Bashir Hassan, who took the second leg of the training, expressed his appreciation to the ministry for organizing the training programme.
He emphasized that protecting the image of the represented organization is the main objective of public relation officers, urging them to be truthful and simple in conveying information to their target audience.
He advocated for a better understanding of the professional relationship between mainstream media workers and public relation officers.
3:05 p.m. Leveraging Digital Media for Public Engagement: Dr Oladele Peter- Digital Media for Public Engagement
On Digital Media for public communications, Dr. Oladele urged participants to go beyond just issuing press statements, noting that they are dealing with Gen Z, a population of young people who rely on the internet to stay informed.
Dr. Oladele also highlighted the indispensability of digital media for media workers, stating that it’s already their reality and they must live by it.
“Digital media has taken over, and you must leap with the trend, put in pictures and show what the agency is all about,” he said.
3:45pm — Photography for Storytelling and Videography as an Explainer tool- Gabriel Tayo and Obakunle Ifeoluwa (Official Photographer and Videographer to Minister of Interior)
Also speaking, Gabriel Tayo delivered insights on how public relation officers can effectively communicate information about their professional duties.
He also touched on using photography to narrate their daily experiences and capture the attention of their target audience.
His partner, videographer Obakunle Ifeoluwa, discussed the importance of video editing in storytelling, highlighting its attention-grabbing and time-saving benefits.
Present at the venue are the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Prof. A. A. Audi; the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Kemi Nandap; a representative of the Federal Fire Service; the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakule.
Also in attendance are media consultant Femi Salako, CDCFIB’s Zamzam Musa and media and communications strategist, Chinedu Chidi who moderated the event alongside (ASC1) Taiwo Juliet from the Nigerian Correctional Service.
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