By Olu Benjamin
Dr Ike Neliaku, President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has called on the need to prioritize strategic communications in Nigeria because of the pivotal role it plays in modern development.
He stated this in an interview with newsmen in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state recently.
According to Neliaku, Nigeria was in short supply of strategic and effective communicators which is essential for it’s modern development hence the need to take steps that will lead the country having more strategic and effective. communicators.
“Our communications has become more violent than none violent. That is why we are promoting strategic and development communications that lead to modern development of the country,” he said.
He pointed out that the three key essentials of strategic communications are the importance of values in communications, importance of vision in communications and the importance of effective communications.
He said strategic and effective communicators will focus their interactions or engagements on implementable visions based on the values of the country that will lead to modern development of Nigeria.
He then praised Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) for setting up the Institute of Strategic and Development Communications (ISDEVCOM) aimed at producing more strategic, effective and development communicators essential for Nigeria’s development.
“For the students of ISDEVCOM or scholars as they call them, I will encourage them that as they continue to go into life, they should ensure they imbibe the culture of strategic and effective communications.
“It is not enough to know it but how you communicate it is also essential. I join the Vice Chancellor and management of the university in celebrating the Director of ISDEVCOM Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura for the way he has nurtured the institute so far,” he said.
He then revealed that due to the importance and impact of the institute in helping to develop Nigeria via producing effective and strategic communicators, the governing council of NIPR has instituted an annual prize for the best graduating student of each set.
Our reporter reports that ISDEVCOM Alumni Association had organized it’s Inaugural Lecture and 2024 Alumni Engagement of the Institute with the theme of the lecture delivered by Mr Segun Adeniyi, a former Special Adviser to former President Umaru Yar’Adua on Media and Publicity titled “Strategic Communication, patriotism and National Security”.
Aside the Inaugural ISDEVCOM Lecture, the event also witnessed the inauguration of ISDEVCOM Alumni Officers and Induction/Orientation/Onboarding of new scholars with several prominent Nigerians attending the event.
…END.