A Management and Communications specialist, Dr Jossy Nkwocha, has identified solutions to Nigeria’s integration crisis.
Nkwocha, who was speaking at a two-day Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace, and Security, organised by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Wednesday, noted that the key measures in rebuilding the country to achieve desired unity, economic prosperity, and social cohension is for government to muster the political will to re-order Nigeria in line with the national anthem, motto and constitution.
In his lecture titled, “Building Reputation of Excellence as Core National Asset: Framework: Strategies, Tools and Actions”, he implored leaders to put the country first.
“Let social justice, equity, federal character and all the ideals enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) be respected and implemented to reduce cries of marginalization.
“Let the Federal Government manage our diversities appropriately, knowing that the country has over 250 ethnic groups, each of which wants to enjoy the commonwealth.
“Let excellence, merit, best practice, innovations be the hallmark of government at all levels in Nigeria,” he said.
To achieve economic prosperity, Nkwocha, a Fellow of NIPR, suggested that Government should create incentives for local and foreign investors and do away with policy summersaults and harsh investment decisions that put investors out of balance.
The paper, delivered on Dr Nkwocha’s behalf by Chinedum Emeana, a corporate communications professional, also spoke on how to achieve political stability.
“Let politics of ideas, politics without bitterness and inclusive politics be the ethos of Nigeria’s national politics”, he said.
The lecture, which was moderated by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Mr Olushina Thorpe, also identified solutions to the security crisis in Nigeria.
“Let the Federal Government declare a national emergency on insecurity and deal decisively with all manner of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, unknown gunmen, etc to stop the current bloodletting in the country.
“Let crime and criminality across the country be treated with equal intensity and severity, with no sacred cows whatsoever,” he declared.
Dr Nkwocha further stated that when there is peace, unity and security in Nigeria, tourists and investors will be attracted.
“Let the Government develop all our tourism sites across the country to attract tourists.
“Let us use sports, movies, creative arts, our beautiful cultures and traditions to recreate and project a New Nigeria of our dream,” he said.
The paper President Mohammadu Buhari to appoint a Minister on “Brand Nigeria”, whose responsibility would be to help the Government to build, monitor, manage and sustain positive reputation for the country.
“Let the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria know that he is the Chief Reputation Officer (CRO) of the country and all his utterances, actions and inactions can affect the reputation of the country.
“The NIPR should act as moral compass across the country to get government to do the right thing at the right time,” he advised.
President of NIPR, Mallam Muktar Sirajo, said the Summit was the institute’s initiative to rebuild the nation into bringing about national integration, peace, unity and security.

By: Ike Wigodo