Public Relations: Federal Fire Service Makes History

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has marked a major milestone in its institutional development with the first coordinated training and induction of Public Relations Officers representing all 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The milestone was achieved on Friday at a One-Day National Stakeholders’ Summit on Fire Safety and Induction of Federal Fire Service Public Relations Officers, organised by the Federal Fire Service in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Rightangle Public Relations (RPR) in Abuja.

Held under the theme, “Building a Resilient Fire Service for the 21st Century,” the summit brought together stakeholders from government, security and emergency management agencies, professional bodies, the media and the private sector to discuss the evolving fire safety challenges facing the country and the need for stronger collaboration.

A major highlight of the event was the formal unveiling of the Federal Fire Service Public Relations Corps badge, symbolising the establishment of a coordinated professional communication structure for the Service across the country.

The officers, drawn from the 36 states and the FCT, were formally inducted into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations after undergoing a specialised training programme designed to strengthen their capacity in strategic communication, media relations, crisis communication, public information, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

The induction included the administration of the professional oath, committing the officers to the ethics and responsibilities of the public relations profession.

Speaking at the summit, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi,MBA, MDRM, ACTI, FCNA, said the initiative represented a new chapter in the Service’s communication architecture, stressing that effective communication was critical to building public confidence, particularly during emergencies.

He challenged the newly inducted officers to use professionalism, accuracy, transparency and timely communication to strengthen public understanding of the Fire Service and help address longstanding misconceptions about the institution.

The Guest Lecturer, Dr. Omoniyi P. Ibietan,fnipr, Secretary-General of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), brought a professional and strategic perspective to the summit, highlighting the growing importance of communication in institutional resilience and public trust.

The President and Chairman of Council of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, who formally inducted the officers, urged them to uphold the ethical standards of the profession and recognise their responsibility as the public voice of the Federal Fire Service.

The event also featured the presentation of an Award of Excellence in recognition of outstanding contribution to fire resilience, while the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) delivered a charge to the newly inducted officers, urging them to approach their responsibilities with discipline, professionalism and a strong commitment to public service.

The summit further provided an opportunity for stakeholders to underscore the shared responsibility for fire safety and the need for Nigerians to support emergency responders, particularly by giving firefighting appliances the right of way, keeping access routes clear and avoiding actions that could obstruct emergency operations.

For the Federal Fire Service, the occasion carried an added significance as it coincided with the first anniversary of the assumption of office of the Controller-General, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who assumed office on 14 August 2025.

The event therefore marked not only a milestone in the professionalisation of the Service’s public relations structure, but also a defining moment in its continuing efforts to build a more responsive, resilient and publicly trusted Fire Service.

With the induction of the PROs and the unveiling of the Public Relations Corps badge, the Federal Fire Service now has a coordinated corps of trained Public Relations Officers positioned across the country to strengthen public education, media engagement, strategic communication and stakeholder relations in support of its mandate to protect lives and property.

Credit: DCF P.O. Abraham, MPhil, MLCG, BL, LLB, ANIPR, National PRO / Head, Corporate Services, Federal Fire Service,
National Headquarters 14/8/2026