L-R: Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, President, Quintessential Business Women Association, Mrs Shimite Katung and Executive Secretary, Association of Non Bank Micro Finance Institutions of Nigeria, Mr Godbless Safugha, during the visit of members of the association to the Minister in Abuja, recently. Photo: NAN

President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mr. Rotimi Oladele, has faulted the initial crisis management approach of the Federal Government, to the abduction of the Chibok school girls.
Oladele, who is also a delegate to the National Conference, spoke during an induction ceremony for new members of NIPR in Lagos State at the weekend.
He expressed dissatisfaction that families of victims are not kept in good shape, noting that they were supposed to be first to be attended to and not the public.
Oladele said, “In tackling situations like this, information must be well verified and you must identify the audience to address first. You don’t just divulge information as you get it. You must understand the impact of each message. I wonder why some people, including those in government are making case for compensation when the incident first occurred.
“Compensation is not the first thing, what is mostly important is how to provide convenience for the victims and their families; you must establish proper link with them before you may now be talking of compensation, rehabilitation and others.
“At the very beginning, like any other person, that may face any emergency or any unexpected situation, the approach may be faulty. Disaster is not something anybody expects or is awaiting and if you are expecting it, you don’t know the dimension it will take. When it first of all happened, you may loose your balance as a human being and that happens to everybody.”
He, however, commended change in government’s action, adding that NIPR has given ultimatum to companies to ensure their image makers are certified.
He added, “It is good that those in charge of maintaining the country’s image have begun to use strategies that attract global pass mark. Professionalism, expertise and the environment where it happens also have their roles. Infrastructural facilities available to tackle the challenges also come into place in determining performance.
“There is no profession that does not have quacks, it just the level that is different. The abduction of girls and insurgent attacks in the country is a challenge to all and sundry, which can be combated through joint effort.”
Commissioner for Information of Cross River State, Chief Akin Ricketts, challenged information managers to be professional while performing their duties.
Ricketts, who is one of the inductees, said being a member of professional institutions would aid expertise in both private and public sectors.