Douse Tension In Nigeria, Nkwocha Counsels Govt Spokespersons

A reputation management and communications specialist, Dr Jossy Nkwocha has advised government spokesmen at federal and state levels to use proper deployment of public communications to build trust and douse tension in the country.
Nkwocha made this submission in a keynote address he delivered at the Strategic Leadership Lecture marking the 31st Public Relations Week of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Lagos State chapter, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
He spoke on the topic: “Managing Public Communications, Building Trust”.
According to him, “In our country today, poor or inappropriate deployment of public communication can aggravate ethnic tension, drums of war; hate speech ethnic profiling and dangerous innuendoes.
“On the other hand, public communications can also be used appropriately and altruistically to douse ethnic tension, create atmosphere of peace, harmony and brotherliness”.
Nkwocha, who is Head of Corporate Communications of Rivers State-based INDORAMA Eleme Petrochemicals and Fertiliser Company Limited, advised that managers of public communications should use the “Attack strategy” sparingly as a last resort.
“Rather they should devise means to build bridges of understanding and friendship for their principals or organizations”, he said.
Nkwocha, whose current book titled, “Reputation Management and Branding: With Nigerian Case Studies”, is trending, pleaded with his colleagues in government to remove the “THEM Vs US” syndrome, which is like a declaration of enmity that the Public Relations profession abhors.
He appealed to managers of public communications to ensure that their public speaking, press interviews, speech writing, press releases, press statements, syndicated articles are seasoned with salt and not laced with hate and anger.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, noted that building trust was very important in public communications, and commended the Lagos NIPR for the lecture.
Represented by the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, the governor urged Public Relations professions to assist governments at all levels to manage issues before there escalate into crisis situations, and create tension in the country.
Also speaking, the President of NIPR, Mallam Muktar Sirajo, said the NIPR would soon organize a Peace and National Integration Summit to map out best ways to restore peace and brotherliness in the country.
The Lagos NIPR event was a huge success with top personalities across the country in attendance.a