Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Abbas Tajudeen (3rd from right), Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, Chief Segun Osoba and NIPR President Dr Ike Neliaku and other dignitaries, unveiling the Nigerian Spokespersons Practice code, in Abuja.
By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –
President and Chairman of Council, of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, has maintained that spokespersons play important roles because they shape public perception and ensure the timely delivery of the right messages to the appropriate audiences.
He explained that it was in view of this that the NIPR organized the Nigeria Spokespersons Summit (NSS), to bring together spokespersons and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, foster collaboration, dissect new trends and acquire new skills.
Dr. Neliaku making his welcome speech
The two-day summit, held at the Ladi Kwali Conference Centre of the Abuja Continental Hotel Abuja from April 15 – 16, also witnessed the launching of the Nigerian Spokespersons Charter and Practice Code (SCPC), and the conferment of honorary Fellowship of the NIPR on deserving and outstanding Nigerians, including the Speake of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Abbas Tajudeen.
According to Dr. Neliaku, the launch of the SCPC became necessary because “as the regulatory body for Public Relations (PR) practice in Nigeria, the Institute has the duty of ensuring that professional best practices, integrity, and ethical standards are upheld at all times in PR practice in Nigeria”
He said the two core objectives of the SCPC were to: Provide an enabling instrument for spokespersons to properly understand, and be well guided by the public relations core essence.
“This includes building reputation, managing perceptions, cultivating goodwill, promoting trust, fostering understanding, encouraging friendship, with mutual respect, and strengthening relationship, within and outside their operating environment.
“It will also help principals and leaders to understand the professional
functionality of their spokespersons, and measure their performances, in line with the established standards and content of this charter,” he said.
Declaring the Summit open, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, called for media literacy as a means of combating the spread of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
Idris, who is also a Fellow of the Institute, enjoined he spokespersons to embrace information and media literacy, a composite concept adopted by UNESCO in 2008, combining the competencies of information literacy and media literacy.
He said: “Today, in a world where everyone is a spokesperson, whether a PR practitioner or a chief executive in the public and private spaces, the imperative for media literacy becomes ever more paramount.
“This is because it equips individuals with the tools to decipher, analyse and evaluate messages conveyed through various media channels, enabling the latitude to make informed decisions and engage with media content responsibly.
“Lately, due to the lack of media literacy, the inability to analyse and contextualise media content in order to verify authenticity, public officers, and indeed the general public, have become prone to the cankerworm of fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
“Through media literacy practices, we will continue to grow the capacity to evaluate news articles, identify potential biases, assess the reliability of sources, adapt to fact-checking and information verification mechanisms.”
He advised public officers to refrain from becoming malleable to misleading content and being easily swayed by falsehoods or biased narratives.
Speaking shortly after his conferment with the Fellowship of the Institute Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, identified effective leadership communication as key to improving public perceptions of governmental institutions.
He said it was for this reason that the House took concrete steps to make its legislative processes more accessible thereby demonstrating a vibrant, accessible institution committed to restoring public trust.
According to the Speaker, “there is significant potential for a stronger partnership between the NIPR and the National Assembly.
“We can work together to launch public orientation campaigns that explain how policies are created and showcase the important role of parliament and enhance public understanding and reduce negative perceptions.”
Tajudeen, who expressed deep appreciation to the NIPR for honouring him Fellowship of the Institute, pledge to uphold transparency, integrity, and ethical communication in every aspect of his role as speaker of the House.
A former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba, in his keynote address, urged Spokespersons not to be carried away by sentiments and emotions in the line of duty.
Among other necessary attributes, Osoba advised Spokespersons to strive to be sociable, lovable, well-mannered and grounded in what they do to promote national unity and nation building.
Former Minister of Culture and Tourism and Supervising Minister of Information, Chief Edem Duke, who was the Chairman of the Occasion, described spokespersons as the most endangered persons in the public sector.
Duke described spokespersons as the face of organisations and urged them to stand for integrity and professionalism and be guided by ethics and synergise to come up with policies to move the profession forward.
From 2nd right: Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, fnipr, Alh. Lai Mohammed, fnipr, Frank Nweke II, FNIPR, Prof. Jerry Gana, FNIPR, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, FNIPR, HE Labaran Maku, FNIPR at the Information Ministerial Clinic at the ongoing 2nd Nigeria Spokespersons Summit with Chairman NRMG, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya fnipr (1st right) and former MD AIT, Tosin Dokpesi mnipr (1st left) moderating
Other dignitaries present at the summit included pas Ministers of Information: Professor Jerry Gana, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Mr. Labaran Maku, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr and Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as well as stakeholder such as the Founder/Chairman of Channels Television, John Momoh; former Managing Director of AIT, Tony Akiotu; Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga and; Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication, Sunday Dare.
They also included the Executive Director of Development Spec Academy, Prof Okey Ikechukwu; former General Manager of Democracy Radio, Alhaji Muhammed Kudu Abubakar; President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Ms Maureen Chigbo; Publisher of NATIONAL ACCORD and Vice President (North) of GOCOP, Tom Chiahemen and the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State on Media and Publicity, Ismaila Isa.
