By Adenike Dada
Stakeholders in the Nigerian protocol profession at the 2025 International Protocol Officers Conference (IPOC) have called for harmonisation and unified policy for flight procedure.
The stakeholders made the call at the International Protocol Officers Conference (IPOC) held on Wednesday in Lagos.
The IPOC featured presentations on three strategic papers on: Introduction to Protocol; Examination of Trending Events and Impact on Protocol Duties and Protocol and Event Management.
Speakers at the conference included: Mr Fortune Idu, the convener; Dr Olunifesi Suraj (UNESCO Coordinator); Patrick Doyles, a renowned TV personality; Moses Ekenomo, Protocol Consultant; Ekelem Airhihen, Planning at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nosa Aituamen, Assistant Director News at Radio Nigeria.
Mr Fortune Idu, during his presentation, harp on the importance of protocol services as a action that is demanding for emerging trends.
“Protocol serve as a major tool for organising society by holding the societal structure of rules and ethics together like glue.
“This defines protocol as the basic foundation of doing things right. The IPOC conference has utilised the platform to highlight the critical role of protocol service.
“It has provided relevant information on various aspects of protocol including international, diplomatic, state and corporate protocol as well as it’s significance in International affairs, state and corporate environment,” he said.
Idu added: Understanding protocol, facilitates seamless event and ceremonial planning and delivery.
“Protocol Officers who are skilled in maintaining up-to-date records are resourceful and have the capacity to manage crises effectively.
“Protocol is often challenged by the changing and continuously evolving international affairs ranging from geopolitics, migration, war and crises, technological shift, environmental issues and human factors.
“The effect of this trend on Protocol is intensely felt in the areas of event planning, travel facilitation, personnel security and resource safety management,” he said.
In his submission, Idu noted that protocol officers should be able to respond from rigidity, a strict rule-based system to a more flexible ways that can respond to new technology, social pressures and unexpected global events.
He also harp on the new to embrace a hybrid system where there is a minimal interactions which requires new standards and a switch from logistical to a more acceptable strategic approach.
During the panel section, the debaters harp on the need for training and retraining of protocol officers and minimise conflicts.
Citing the incidences of breaking of protocols by air travelers with the instance the popular musician, Wasiu Ayinde and Comfort Emmasson, the stakeholders called for the enforcement of due process of laws without bias.
They also argued that the unified policy on flight procedures must be enforced without bias adding that flight procedures are not locally generated but internationally regulated.
Also, Ekelem Airhihen talked on the use of Artificial intelligence (Ai) to achieve great results by the protocol officers.
He argued that the use of Ai could be moderated adding that the system not only improve on services it also aid quick response to resolving issues.
Participants present at the conference were the European Union, ECOWAS Commission, NNPC, the Office of the Secretary of the Federation, the Nigeria Navy, Africa Aviation and Aerospace University, the Ministry of Solid Minerals.
Others include Arik Air, Aero Contractors, the Raw Materials Agency, Oyo State, Yobe State, Nigeria Customs, Code Of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Wema Bank, Kastina State government, Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria Airspace Authority, NEPL among others.
