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Bode Ojajuni, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, has called on public relations practitioners to deploy their expertise towards addressing what he described as growing moral decline in society and promoting positive values among young people.
Ojajuni made the call while receiving a delegation from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ogun State Chapter, at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta.
The police commissioner described public relations professionals as agents of change who possess the skills and training needed to influence attitudes and contribute to societal development.
Expressing concern over rising cases of indiscipline and social misconduct, particularly among the youth, Ojajuni attributed the trend partly to declining parental supervision and societal neglect of core values.
According to him, parents and guardians must take greater responsibility for instilling discipline, moral values and respect for authority in their children.
“We have social vices and morality challenges in our society today. Many of the values that were once passed from one generation to another are gradually fading away. Parents should not encourage wrongdoing but should guide and discipline their children when necessary. We must all work together to correct these lapses and promote responsible behaviour,” he said.
The commissioner urged public relations practitioners to intensify efforts at promoting ethical values, public enlightenment and behavioural change through strategic communication and continuous engagement with young people.
He also pledged continued collaboration and support for the institute in its efforts to contribute to national development.
Other senior officers of the command, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, DCP Bolanle Muritala; Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, DCP Ibrahim Abdul; and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Administration, ACP Olu Moore Akinmoladun, echoed the commissioner’s position.
They stressed the need for public relations professionals to partner with government and other stakeholders in promoting patriotism, ethical conduct and national values.
The officers also highlighted the importance of sound home training and suggested the establishment of public relations clubs in schools to expose young people to positive values and leadership skills from an early age.
Oluwaseun Boye, the Chairman of NIPR, Ogun State Chapter, earlier said the visit was to congratulate Ojajuni on his appointment as Commissioner of Police in Ogun State and to reaffirm the institute’s cordial relationship with the command.
She commended the police chief for his professional accomplishments in the Nigeria Police Force, including his service as a police spokesperson and his active participation in the institute’s activities.
Boye also highlighted some of the chapter’s achievements under her leadership, including the successful hosting of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Public Relations Week in Abeokuta in 2024, annual colloquia, professional training programmes, mentorship initiatives for young practitioners, a coastal retreat and the chapter’s cultural end-of-year gathering.
As part of the visit, the police commissioner and members of the command’s management team conducted the NIPR delegation around key departments of the command, including the Gateway Shield Unit, which handles security-related distress calls from members of the public through a toll-free line.
