DSS UNVEILS NEW DIRECTORATE, APPOINTS PETER AFUNANYA
Written by Tunde Adeyemi on September 28, 2023
Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has established a new Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications (DPRSC).
The DSS, in a statement, said this is part of its efforts in sustaining its engagement with citizens and the public at large as well as deepening democratic governance, transparency and accountability.
The Service has commended its director-general, Yusuf Bichi for the initiative to undertake the expansion and particularly appointing Afunanya to pilot the directorate.
The Service has also appointed Peter Afunanya, the erstwhile public relations officer to head the directorate as supervising director and also be in charge of the service’s public communications effective from 26th September 2023.
Afunanya comes to his new role with over 20 years vast and rich experience in Intelligence analysis, threat assessment, security administration, VIP protection/detailing, investigation, counterterrorism, open source intelligence management, background checks and security vetting, surveillance, security sector/intelligence governance, democratic accountability in law enforcement, educational research, peace advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, development communication, interagency cooperation/liaison, joint operations, teaching, public and media relations, reputation management, strategic communication, protocol and diplomatic affairs, writing, public speaking, stakeholder engagement among others.
A PhD holder in Security and Strategic Studies, Afunanya also possesses a Master’s degree in Peace and Strategic Studies.
Since his enlistment into the DSS in 1999, Afunanya has attended many courses in leadership, management, executive intelligence management, preventing and countering violent extremism as well as tradecrafts at the Service’s training institutions.
He currently serves as a member of the Strategic Communication Inter-Agency Policy and Coordination Committee (SC/IPCC) in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), a Fellow of the Security Institute (FSI) and member of many professional bodies.
