By Festus Obot & Oluwaseyi Otitoju
In recognition of its exemplary and unwavering commitment to promoting the ideals and objectives of the protocol profession in its operations, participants at the 12th International Protocol Officers Conference (IPOC) unanimously nominated the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) as member of the Council of International Protocol Professionals (CIPP) during its five-day International Protocol Officers Conference in Lagos. The 6-member Council has two staff of RMRDC – Mr Festus Obot (Assistant Director) and Miss Oluwaseyi Otitoju (Chief Information Officer) – nominated as Council members to bring their experience to bear in advancing the objectives of CIPP both nationally and regionally.
The CIPP is a regional body for protocol professionals across the African continent. It aims to promote best practices in protocol services and forge regional collaborations, ideas sharing and cooperation among protocol officers across the African continent.
Organized around the theme: “The Protocol of International Diplomacy”, day one of the Conference featured a cocktail reception and networking session. Day two featured three strategic papers that reviewed the duties of protocol officers, the management of events and emerging trends affecting quality protocol service delivery — including public speaking, presence and presentation. The conference facilitators included Mr. Fortune Idu, the convener of the conference; Professor Olufunsho Syraj, a lecturer at the University of Lagos; and Mr. Patrick Doyle, a renowned and accomplished TV personality.
Day three to five covered topics such as re-defining airport protocol, improving travel facilitation, airport corridor management and the impact of artificial intelligence on protocol practice. Each of the sessions was designed to equip participants with insights into how AI and other emerging trends are reshaping the art of protocol. The conference programme also included membership networking, sightseeing and a boat trip around the five (5) islands that make up Lagos State, a table-tennis tournament, cultural display, a seminar on consular matters, and a session addressing the management of social media misrepresentations. Speaking at one of the sessions, Mr. Fortune Idu – a renowned protocol expert explained that, “Protocol officers are essential to organising society and events: they uphold ethical standards and etiquette that bind social structures and ensure events run with grace, finesse and refinement.” He urged participants to transition from purely logistical roles to strategic, global functions and to adopt flexibility in their approaches.
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The 2025 International Protocol Officers Conference drew participants from the Protocol Unit of various organisations such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RMRDC, ECOWAS, EFCC, ICPC, INEC, CAC, the European Union, representatives of regulatory agencies from the aviation sector as well as State Governments.
