Kigali, Rwanda-Distinguished facilitators and resource persons,
Esteemed protocol professionals and event managers,
Government officials and development partners,
Special guests, ladies and gentlemen,
It is with immense joy, honour, and professional pride that I welcome you all to this historic 5-Day Executive Master Class Protocol Training taking place here in the beautiful city of Kigali, Rwanda.
This highly impactful programme, organized by the IYV School of Protocol, Nigeria, for protocol professionals, represents another major step toward strengthening professionalism, capacity building, and global best practices within the protocol and event management profession in Africa.
On behalf of the Protocol Officers and Event Planners Association of Nigeria (POEPAN), I sincerely commend the CEO, Register and management of the IYV School of Protocol for their consistency, vision, and commitment toward shaping and developing the protocol profession through quality training, mentorship, professional exposure, and international engagements such as this.
Your institution has continued to play a significant role in building competent protocol officers and event professionals who are contributing meaningfully within government institutions, corporate organizations, diplomatic environments, and private establishments. This commitment to human capital development deserves recognition and encouragement.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Protocol is no longer merely ceremonial. In today’s rapidly evolving world, protocol has become a strategic instrument for governance, diplomacy, leadership coordination, communication management, institutional reputation, security collaboration, and international relations.
The responsibilities of protocol professionals continue to expand globally. From state functions to diplomatic engagements, international conferences, corporate events, security coordination, and leadership management, protocol officers remain central to the success, credibility, and image of institutions and nations.
Without effective protocol coordination, many official activities, diplomatic engagements, government programmes, and high-level events can easily experience confusion, embarrassment, poor coordination, security breaches, communication gaps, and institutional failures.
This is why governments, ministries, departments, agencies, and public sector managers must place greater priority on continuous capacity building and professional development for protocol officers.
In today’s complex and interconnected world, protocol officers require regular training, international exposure, technological knowledge, leadership skills, crisis management competence, intercultural communication understanding, and modern administrative techniques to effectively perform their responsibilities.
Investment in protocol training is not an expense; it is an investment in institutional efficiency, national image, professionalism, and successful governance.
A well-trained protocol officer enhances coordination, promotes institutional dignity, strengthens organizational reputation, improves stakeholder engagement, and ensures smooth execution of official activities.
This Executive Master Class is therefore timely and necessary.
Over the next five days, participants will be exposed to modern protocol procedures, diplomatic etiquette, event coordination strategies, leadership communication, VIP management, intercultural relations, ceremonial administration, crowd management, security collaboration, and contemporary global trends in protocol practice.
Kigali, Rwanda, offers an excellent environment for this training due to its remarkable reputation for orderliness, discipline, organization, cleanliness, innovation, and effective governance. There is indeed much to learn from this environment as professionals committed to excellence.
Distinguished participants,
As National President of POEPAN, I wish to use this opportunity to once again advocate strongly for the establishment of a dedicated Protocol Cadre within the Nigerian Civil Service at both federal and state levels.
Protocol officers perform highly sensitive and strategic responsibilities, yet in many institutions, the profession still lacks proper structure, recognition, career progression, and professional identity within the public service system.
The time has come for governments and relevant authorities to recognize protocol administration as a specialized professional field deserving of institutional frameworks, proper placement, training opportunities, and clear career advancement pathways.
A structured protocol cadre will improve professionalism, efficiency, coordination, national image management, and institutional service delivery across government establishments.
In the same vein, we also call for broader global recognition and celebration of World Protocol Day as an important platform for promoting awareness, professionalism, ethics, excellence, and the contributions of protocol officers worldwide.
Protocol professionals work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure order, dignity, coordination, and successful engagements at local, national, and international levels. Their contributions to governance, diplomacy, peace building, event management, and institutional success deserve greater global acknowledgment and appreciation.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As professionals, we must continue to uphold the highest standards of discipline, integrity, confidentiality, professionalism, emotional intelligence, and service excellence.
I encourage every participant here to maximize this opportunity by engaging actively, networking professionally, exchanging ideas, and building lasting relationships that will strengthen our institutions and professional practice.
Let me also sincerely appreciate all facilitators, coordinators, organizers, partners, and stakeholders whose sacrifices and dedication made this programme possible.
As we officially commence this 5-Day Executive Master Class Protocol Training, I pray that this programme will broaden our knowledge, sharpen our skills, strengthen our capacities, and reposition us for greater professional relevance and impact.
Together, let us continue to advance protocol practice, promote professionalism, and build stronger institutions across Africa and the world.
Thank you very much and God bless you all.
Long live IYV School of Protocol.
Long live POEPAN.
Long live professional protocol practice.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Prince Abubakar Sadiq Zakari, AEC
National President, Protocol Officers and Event Planners Association of Nigeria (POEPAN)
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