Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, wants public relations professionals in Nigeria to serve as guardians of truth and national integration, through effective communication, in the face of a growing threat, from purveyors of disinformation.
The Vice President, who spoke on Tuesday when he declared open the maiden edition of the National Spokespersons Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR), and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, emphasised the critical role image-building and narrative construction, play in maintaining social order.
The two-day summit with the theme, “Change Narrative, Change Society,” which had in attendance, spokespersons from both the public and private sectors, seeks to address the challenges of communicating in an era of information overload.
VP Shettima, who was represented at the event by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, said, “Through your commitments and sacrifices, the voices of the misrepresented and the misunderstood are amplified, and the vision of a better tomorrow is brought to fruition.”
Delivering the Vice President’s address, Nkwocha stressed the immense responsibility spokespersons hold, as the voice of their “organisations or principals, representing their values, visions, missions, and aspirations to the public.”
Shettima lauded President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to citizen engagement, saying, “This is an invitation for you to partner with us, in crafting the right narratives, to change the Nigerian story, and reinvent our society.”
VP Shettima also urged spokespersons to be inclusive, saying, “Always leave a seat empty for any group to join your table, and don’t treat anyone as inconsequential, because their views don’t align with yours.”
He expressed hope that the summit would “strengthen the enthusiasm of all spokespersons to bridge divides, inspire commitment, and induce actions that drive the change we desire.”
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, harped on the pivotal role effective communication plays, in shaping perceptions and fostering trust.
He noted that the future of communication is driven by technology, but must be anchored in trust, insisting that trust remains a critical element in building relationships, and urging spokespersons to make conscious efforts to build trust and restore hope at all times.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
