By Harrison Essien, July 31, 2026
A US-trained protocol expert and Senior Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Brand Management and Marketing, Mr Raphael Edem, has cautioned public institutions and corporate organisations against the wrong use of official portraits, especially those of public officers.
Mr Edem stated that the official portrait of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces features two flags behind the President; one being the National Flag and the other being the flag of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
He spoke on Thursday while delivering a lecture on “Proper Protocol Practices” at the Leadership Summit organised by Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, to commemorate the first anniversary of the administration of the State Chairman of the Union, Comrade Nsibiet John.
He stressed that the correct presidential portrait does not have the coat of arms superimposed on the flag and that there is no official national symbol that has both the national flag and the coat of arms in one image.
According to him, protocol remains one of the most misunderstood and least studied aspects of public administration despite its critical role in official engagements.
Mr Edem also identified punctuality as a fundamental principle of protocol, urging Nigerians to cultivate the habit of arriving early for public functions as a mark of respect for organisers, guests and scheduled programmes.
The Protocol School of Washington-trained protocol officer also underscored the importance of appropriate dressing, advising public officials and participants at official events to avoid casual appearances, including wearing short-sleeved shirts to formal occasions.
He further highlighted the need for masters of ceremonies to understand the proper procedure for introducing and recognising dignitaries, noting that introductions at official events should follow a structured order of precedence.
On the conduct of official ceremonies, Edem maintained that the Nigerian National Anthem can be rendered at every formal event irrespective of whether there are Government officials present at the event or not.
He explained that where both the National Anthem and Akwa Ibom State Anthem are to be performed, the National Anthem must come first, adding that one stanza of the National Anthem is appropriate for any such function.
Speaking on the journalism profession, Mr Edem described journalists as professionals expected to possess broad knowledge across diverse fields, urging media practitioners to continually update their skills, expand their knowledge base and uphold the highest ethical standards in the discharge of their responsibilities.
