•Urges vigilance against fake news
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasised the crucial role of diligent and objective communication in combating the deceptive tactics of fake news merchants.
He spoke at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the National Spokespersons Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja.
Represented by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima highlighted to dignitaries and professionals from various sectors At the event the pervasive threat of false narratives and targeted agendas in the public sphere.
The two-day summit with the theme, “Change Narrative, Change Society,” which had in attendance spokespersons from both public and private sectors, seeks to address the challenges of communicating in an era of information overload.
He stressed the immense responsibility spokespersons hold as the voice of their “organizations or principals, representing their values, visions, missions, and aspirations to the public.”
Cautioning against the threat of misinformation, Senator Shettima stated: “You are not only the spokesperson, a gatekeeper of truth, but also a defender of the public at the mercy of fake news merchants and their impressionable mercenaries.
“We can never win the war against misinformation and disinformation unless our responses to them are timely and evidence-based,” he warned. “You are a pillar of the nation’s security framework.”
The vice president lauded President Bola Ahmed 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.”
He 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.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasised the pivotal role effective communication plays in shaping perceptions and fostering trust.
“Nigeria, a diversely blessed and vibrant country, grapples with the need to create a cohesive national identity; one that transcends ethnicity, religion, and political affiliations,” the minister stated, adding that “crafting a compelling national narrative becomes paramount as we strive to live up to our vast potential.”
Idris noted that the future of communication is driven by technology but must be anchored in trust. “Trust remains a critical element in building relationships. As spokespersons, we need to make conscious efforts to build trust and restore hope wherever we are.”
He revealed that this year the Ministry is set to unveil the “Nigeria Values Charter”, embodying a social contract between the nation and its citizens to define shared values and reinforce national identity.
The minister praised President Tinubu’s economic reforms, stating that they are “recording incremental successes across various facets of our economy.”
The President and Chairman of Governing Council of NIPR, Ike Neliaku, in his opening remarks, regretted that at a time when survival has become the issue, people now take roles that they are not called to do.
“At a time when survival has become the issue, people now take roles that they are not called to do. And once that happens they become disasters on two legs because they cannot do what they have assigned to themselves that they will do. That is why you have a lot of chaos and confusion and violence and so on and so forth.
“The word we speak is life and spirit, therefore, what will happen at the summit, we will be able to teach spokespersons how to first of all realise that they are Nigerians. I keep telling people, this is the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, remove Nigeria we will not function here. Therefore, we take our life from the life of the nation.
“Our primary responsibility is to see to the development and growth of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are saying that professionals have a role to play in governance, leadership and nation building. What many of us don’t realize is that we cannot build a successful nation without the functions and tools of public relations. Those who have done it before, will tell you that reputation is a core asset, the reputation of any nation determines the kind of people that will come to such a nation. Therefore, it is time for us to take the issue of reputation seriously. And only one organisation is given the mandate by law to drive the process of communications and that is the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.”