…As Nsirim says skill essential for gainful employment
Members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Rivers State Chapter Thursday underwent a- one day intensive training tagged”Public Relations Imperatives in Electioneering Campaign Communication in Nigeria.’
The Programme which took place at the NIPR temporary Secretariat at Police Women Association(POWA) Secretariat in Port Harcourt had in attendance, practitioners and senior journalists in the state.
Addressing the trainees, the Commissioner of Information,Pastor Paulinus Nsirim said the “Masterclass on Electioneering Communication Campaigns would reposition Public Relations Officers to hold their own in the current electioneering process..
Nsirim,who is the Chairman of NIPR in the state said the time has come for Public Relations Officer to stop sitting on the fence and take advantage of the current political process.
One way to achieve this he said ,is to acquire relevant skills that would compel political actors to engage their services..
He warned” lf you do not have a skill to work nobody will request for your services”
He said the training was organised to equip participants with skills to help politicians in Nigeria to communicate effectively.
According to him,Politicians communicate but do not communicate effectively.and said it was the duty of public relations practitioners to guide them so that the populace would internalize their campaign messages and make informed and preferred choices.
The Commissioner said the current situation in the country calls for urgent intervention of public relations officers to assist in the process of choosing the right leadership for the country
” Every right thinking Nigerian understands that this country is at a crossroad and we cannot afford to leave our political process in the hands of those who don’t have what it takes to offer us quality service to bring us out of our political quagmire
” This event would position you and I not just to interrogate the political process but to get the political gladiators to appreciate what it means to govern..
” And looking at the current Electoral Act, we believe that when public relations practitioners get themselves actively involved in the political process,we are likely to have a credible direction that would produce for Nigeria, patriotic leaders who have the passion and zeal to give us quality service.
The lead trainer,Mr Yomi Badejo Ogunsaya analysed Imperatives in Electioneering Communication Campaigns in democracy and communication strategies for effective electioneering campaigns.
Badejo , a former Chairman of the NIPR, Lagos and current President, African Public Relations Officers Association drew the nexus between Politics and Communication using several models including Aristotle’s and charged participants to be the” master of communication”.
Describing Strategy as foundational work for, any action, Badejo outlined the fundamental roles required in Public Relations., some of which is counselling and advisory..
He urged participants to leverage on the political climate and make their contributions through guidance using acquired skills to achieve their objectives.
Major Highlight of the programme was group presentation on consultancy services relaying messages for greater understanding to the public.
