The Nation Newspaper

Tag: communication

  • Communication as tool in policy marketing

    Communication as tool in policy marketing

    Over the years, governments have executed policies without  engaging the people to get their support. Stakeholders in the marketing communications industry say for government policies to enjoy more support, factors, such as experiential marketing, community engagement and others, are critical, reports ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI.

    Experiential marketing, citizen engagement and community relations have been described as one effective way of engaging Nigerians and market government policies.

    This was the highlight at the Third Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN) in Abuja.

    Its President, Dr. Rotimi Olaniyan, who delivered a paper titled: Building Nigeria through meaningful Experiences: The role of experiential marketing in citizen engagement and the marketing of government policy, said the relationship between experiential marketing, citizen engagement and community relations has some dimensions when using it to communicate government policies.

    “First of all, these concepts require the existence of people. They involve efforts, and activities aimed at engaging people, and they also seek to ensure positive relationships with people. For experiential marketing, it is a form of marketing that requires a good strategy for it to be as effective as intended by those undertaking it. Like many marketing campaigns, there is an underlying strategy guiding it to achieve its objectives and aims,” he said.

    Olaniyan also noted that community relations can serve as a strategy for experiential marketing. “For example, in Casanare, Colombia, where it is developing oil interests, British Petroleum invests in community activities that support the business plan and contribute to the region’s development. In 1996, the company committed $10 million to the region, setting up a loan fund for entrepreneurs, giving students technical training, supporting a centre for pregnant women and nursing mothers, working on reforestation, building aqueducts and helping to create jobs outside the oil industry,” he said.

    He said EXMAN is ready to help government put these strategies into use and create a strong understanding of government policies among the citizens.

    “We offer the opportunity for government to receive immediate feedback from citizens on the effects of public policies and projects. The association has healthy relationships with most communities across the country, thanks to many years of brand activations and engagements within these communities,” he added.

    According to him, having feedback is important for adjustments on public policies and projects to be made.

    Former Director-General, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, who was the guest speaker at the event, said both concepts focus on engaging people.

    “Experiential marketing seeks to create experiences that are pleasurable and meaningful for consumers while community relations involves activities that help establish and maintain positive relationships with people in a certain community,” he said.

    Amadi, who faulted the failure of government reforms on lack of adequate communication, said since 1980, the Federal Government undertook several reforms and policies but many of them ended on the shelf because of inadequate communications.

    He said proper communication, which he called awareness, could help in marketing government policies.

    Stakeholders, however, urged the government to tap into the capacity of the current experiential marketing agencies to leverage their policies.

    “Given the worth of the experiential marketing industry in Nigeria and the capacity of its key players most of whom are active members of the EXMAN, it is fair to state that the industry contributes massively to the economy of the country and so cannot be ignored much longer,” former EXMAN President, Kayode Olagesin, said.

    Meanwhile, the association has launched Certified Brand Ambassador Programme and unveiled the association first newsletter. The programme, which seeks to protect and reward non-staff of the agencies that form greater part of the workforce, kicked off immediately after launch in Abuja.

  • In search of national communication framework

    In search of national communication framework

    The image of a country is crucial to attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). Experts at the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) 43rd Annual General Meeting/Congress in Akwa Ibom State highlighted the role of communications in national development and nation branding, ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI, who was there, reports

    At a time the Bristish Prime Minister, David Cameron, described Nigeria as ‘fantastically corrupt’, the focus of this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Congress of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) could not be more apt.

    With Communication As a Tool for National Development as its theme,  there was an assemblage of experts to address communication and branding challenges.

    Analysts say it is the best way to go for any government in need of the best method to communicate its policies to not only the citizens but to the outside world.

    The debate on coming out with a well-accepted marketing communications strategy for the country has been futile over the last five years. But Akwa Ibom State, where the event was held, provided a case study – development and communication – for better understanding of the  role of communication in national development and nation branding.

    The speakers, including Governor Emmanuel Udom; the Acting Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), Mrs. Ibim Semenitari; a senior advertising practitioner and the Managing Director of SO&U, Mr. Udeme Ufot, and the immediate past president of AAAN, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, were unanimous that communication can change behaviours, entrench positive attitude and enhance national rebirth. Communication can as well enhance positive perception from external publics, especially, the international community.

    Describing advertising as a veritable tool for repositioning  the state, Udom said a communication campaign – Dakkada – adopted by the state has become a litmus test that could be adopted by government at all levels to achieve  national development, reorientation and attitudinal change. He said such business must be handled by professionals to achieve results.

    He said: “We are all guilty of the blame; we got into this mess basically because Nigerians were not interested in their own enterprises. There is an urgent need for the average Nigerian to show some level of patriotism towards made-in-Nigeria goods and patronage of our professionals in all fields. With this, we will be able to check capital flight as well as boost the naira.

    “On communication, I have always emphasised that there must be connection between the people and government mechanism and the best way to go about this is to engage professionals, who understand our culture, our programmes and our target audience.”

    Also, Mrs. Semenitari, a founding Editor of BroadStreet Journal, a publication of Tell Magazine, underscored the role of communication. She said there was the need for the government to provide citizens with information on programmes and activities, saying this is a vital function which underpins state-society relation.

    Semenitari said further that the government, being the first brand face of Nigeria, must carry its people along, making them the first advocates for Brand Nigeria. “The result of this would be a boundless subscription by all Nigerians to Brand Nigeria, an affirmative position which is accompanied by pride, sincerity and collective responsibility, knowing that no truly big or successful brand can be built in isolation,” she said.

    She noted that adopting effective communication strategy in governance would foster national pride, advocacy, behavioural changes and support for government initiatives. It will also naturally encourage foreign investors and tourist attraction. “An overall belief in brand Nigeria is just coming attractions for what the big play could turn out to be,” she affirms.

    Challenging advertisers, she  said communication as a tool for national development as seen through the eyes of communications experts must be seen as a task to probe new models and channels through which the people can be carried along.

    “The process of competently advising, guiding, processing and executing ideas at every level is the strongest challenge for advertising agents. And why do I think it’s a challenge? Taking into consideration the peculiar challenges our government is presently tackling and considering the progress we have made in these areas, it must be stated that already one thing is clear, the present administration is not turning its eyes the other way to corruption or the menace of insurgency. Peculiar times call for peculiar models, hence, we must be imaginative; be able to gain the confidence of the people while communicating Nigeria’s ideals.

    “Our offerings and response simplified, sustainable and brilliant, yet convincing,” she said.

    She said AAAN could not be ignored in the communication space, particularly in maintaining an appreciable level of ethics of practice, which she referred to as the precursor of the sanity in the advertising industry.

    In the “fantastically altered” perception about the country, she said, there isn’t a better time than now to collectively bring to the fore strategies towards adequately using communication for nation building and highlighing the role of teh government.

    Drawing attention to the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister David  Cameron’s comment, Uffot said Nigerians were responsible for the way foreigners see the country in negative light. He said Nigerians and top government officials, including the media, were responsible for demarketing Nigeria.

    “There is nothing Nigerians enjoy more, both the lowly and the highly placed, than to denigrate their nation, even in the midst of foreign audiences, (washing our  dirty linen (at their doorsteps). It is indeed a sad place to be, that Nigerians who are old enough to have seen, and been a part of this country in its better days, and some of whom had been contributory to the country’s sinking to the current sorry state, should be some of the loudest in bad mouthing and rubbishing the nation,” he said.

    Quoting the Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Uffot said: “Nation building is about building a common sense of purpose, a sense of shared destiny, a collective imagination of belonging. Nation building is therefore about building the tangible and intangible threads that hold a political entity together and gives it a sense of purpose. It is about building the institutions and values which sustain the collective community in these modern times.”

    In the light of this Ufot, said there is need for a professional communication framework and architecture in managing government communications.

    The conference support by The Nation Newspaper, according to Nwosu, was organised to articulate options and identify strategies for addressing national issues, particularly those that relate to the advertising industry and the Nigeria economy. He also said it was meant to suggest clear ideas on how government can effectively engage the hearts and minds of Nigerians.

    Nwosu said for the engagement of strategic communication is to motivate members of the public. While pointing out that many governments, all over the world, retain the services of professional marketing communication partners to sell their policies, he tasked practitioners in the advertising business on the need to see their role in national development beyond offering marketing communication services to the private sector.

  • Comic book launched to fight malaria

    Comic book launched to fight malaria

    As part of effort to reduce death caused by malaria to the minimum, a comic book was recently launched to better communicate information bothering on malaria diagnosis, prevention and treatment.

    According to the author of the book, Mayowa Salau, Executive Director of Iba (Malaria) Eradication Foundation, the Malaria comic book is a culture specific advocacy book, which contains information such as malaria treatment, prevention, diagnosis and cause.

    Salau noted that the book is designed for in and out of school children, with the intention to translate into four major languages spoken in Africa thus potentially reaching millions of children all over Africa.

    “We are also making efforts to translate it in Hindi, largely spoken in Africa

    “Children are one of most vulnerable groups affected by malaria. There were an estimated 660,000 malaria deaths around the world in 2010, of which approximately 86% were children,” he noted.

    In her remarks, Mrs. Akintunde Ibironke, Advocacy, Communication, Sensitization and Social Mobilization Officer for Lagos State Malaria Elimination Programme, noted that the cosmopolitan nature of the state, coupled with peoples’ behaviour and the abundant distribution of coastal areas, encourage the availability of stagnant water for the breeding of anopheles mosquitoes.

    This, according to her, is responsible for the stable pattern and continuous transmission of malaria all the year round.

    Her words: “In 2015, 736,328 cases of malaria were documented through routine data collection processes. Malaria therefore remains a priority disease and the state Government will continue to demonstrate its commitment to its control.

    “The present administration has renewed the commitment of the state Government to tackle the scourge of Malaria using a multi-pronged approach including: Environmental management and integrated Vector control for the prevention of Malaria; Effective diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Malaria cases.”

    Students present at the launch in Lagos
    Students present at the launch in Lagos. Photo by David Lawal

    In addition to that, she mentioned good Monitoring and Evaluation with emphasis on operational control for the prevention of Malaria; Effective diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Malaria cases; and good Monitoring and Evaluation with emphasis on operational research and the use of its result for evidence based programming.

    Similarly, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General in Nigeria, Frank Sellin recounted how vigorous efforts to fight malaria in Nigeria have reduced mortality rates among children under five by 18 percent, and malaria in children under five has declined by no less than 15 percent, Since 2011.

    Represented by Mr Austin Emeanua, Mandela Washington Fellowship Coordinator, Selling observed that in the same 15 years, worldwide efforts to control malaria have resulted in a global drop in infection rates by 60 percent.

    “We all have learned a great deal about the strategies that work. But even as we recognize the world-shaping power of volunteer efforts, international efforts, and government efforts, we also have to recognize the problem before us, laid out recently by U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle.

    “Ninety percent of all malaria deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.  The vast majority are children under five.  Malaria is killing one of our children every two minutes.  Hundreds of millions of people get sick with malaria again and again.

    “Malaria accounts for more than half of all school absences, and it costs billions of dollars each year in health care and lost productivity.  I understand that Nigerian officials in the Malaria Elimination Program estimate that the Nigerian economy loses N132 billion annually, because of malaria. We can’t ignore this problem.  No one can,” he maintained.

    Speaking further, Sellin said: “If you want to see the chairs here, and the chairs in schools filled with promising young lives, then join the fight.  Learn how you can prevent malaria, and get treated early.  Teach others how to do that. Those missing children depend on everyone’s commitment to end malaria for good.”

    Salau expressed appreciation to the office of the United State Consulate and the government of Lagos state, maintaining that the comic books are not for sale.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Malaria” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Communication key to agric sector’s growth, says Ogbeh

    Communication key to agric sector’s growth, says Ogbeh

    Agriculture Minister Audu Ogbeh has said public relations (PR) is key to fostering the growth of agriculture.

    Ogbeh described PR as an essential tool for the development of the potential of agricultural resources.

    Speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Ibadan, the Oyo  State capital, with the theme: “Networking for national economy of self-reliance – the synergy of agriculture and communication”,  Ogbeh said marketing communication stakeholders must disseminate prime information on policy and programme marketing.

    In doing this, he said, marketing strategies must be used to reach out to the grassroots, tertiary institutions, farmers at all levels, farm tool manufacturers, international interest groups and organisations to grow the sector. Agricultural sector is believed to be the next driver of national growth beyond oil.

    Ogbeh said to encourage the growth of certain crops in Nigeria, the government had developed a transparent mechanism of importation of improved grass seeds through due procurement, adding that it must be supported by effective communication.

    He, however, urged the NIPR to take interest in building supportive linkages and networks by linking towns and publishing research results for various agro-allied institutes and schools.

    Also, the Dean, Basic Clinical Sciences, Afe Babalola University, Dr Laofe Ogundipe, challenged NIPR to embark on communication campaigns to extol the virtues of agriculture in order to achieve desired socio-economic development goals.

    He said Germany used allotment gardens to start its industrial revolution and banish hunger and poverty. “The People took to allotment gardens following strategic communication of the need to do so. Nigeria can attain similar development if we use communication to embrace agriculture. This is the synergy that will lead to development of our economy,” he said.

    In addition, Oyo State governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, said the role of NIPR was very strategic in a country that wants to succeed. Ajumobi urged stakeholders to encourage PR practitioners to achieve economic and policy best practice.

  • Viber partners Jumia to deepen communication

    Viber, a messaging and calling app with more than 664 million unique users globally has received partnership from diverse online platforms in Africa and the Middle East with the launch of its new social media channel ‘Viber Public Chats.’

    Its Chief Marketing Officer, Mark Hardy, said the Middle East and Africa are important markets for Viber, stressing that he is pleased to welcome local influencers and brands to the Public Chats platform.

    Some of the partners are Jumia, The Future Project, an organisation designed to empower citizens across Africa; Naij.com, leading online news platform; YNaija, the internet newspaper for young Nigerians and BellaNaija, Nigeria’s premiere online lifestyle magazine, among others.

    He said selected partners in Africa, Pan-African level and in key markets including: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Kenya, and Egypt have joined Public Chats for the regional launch in a bid to be the first players to offer local conversations on Viber.

    “Jumia, the leading ecommerce platform in Africa, recently opened Public Chats in Egypt and Nigeria and were one of the first partners to join this new social channel in the Middle East and Africa. Viber users can expect more Jumia Public Chats to open in the African continent in the coming months,” he said.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Jumia, Jeremy Doutte said the company is excited with the partnership.

  • Driving and communication

    Driving is a complex task which involves the simultaneous use of several organs of the body (eyes, ears, nose, brain, hands, and legs) in a continuously changing environment (smooth road, dusty road, roads dotted with potholes, wet road, cloudy road, dark road, etc.)

    Driving activities must be well co–ordinated, taking into consideration the activities of other road users with the goal of ensuring effective and safe vehicle control.

    At any point in time, a driver or rider must drive or ride predictably to prevent causing confusion for the upcoming and oncoming vehicles and other road users.

    Communication in driving involves the use of turn indicators (pointers), hands, hazard light (double pointers), reverse light, full and beam lights to communicate the situations or their intentions to other road users.

    There are however two very vital points which many drivers and riders(including vehicle owners) don’t know which I want to use this article to elaborate upon.

    1. Turn indicator (pointer) or hand is not the only signal to indicate that a driver or rider wants to make a turn to the right or to the left. The positioning of the vehicle is also an important signal as to where a vehicle wants to turn to. That is, whether you clearly see the pointer of the vehicle ahead of you or not, the moment you see that the front of the vehicle is tilting to the right or left, you should know that the vehicle is likely to make a turn to that direction where it is tilting to. This is another element of Hazard perception. It is also very vital that you always obey the following – distance rule to avoid being a victim in this type of situation.

    Therefore, drivers and riders must not take the turn indicator or pointer as the only signal they have to see before knowing that the vehicle ahead wants to make a turn. The driver may not know that the pointer is not working, may forget to switch it on or may deliberately move about without functional pointers.  It is however very important that every driver and rider should use the pointer and sometimes, hand to signal their intention to turn. This also should be done early enough and not too sudden.

    1. Hazard lights (double pointers) are not to be used when the vehicle is in motion. It is meant for faulty stationary vehicles. Any vehicle that is still moving on the road must not use double pointers, no matter the status of the drivers of such vehicles or their principals. If the vehicle has a fault or any form of challenge, it must not use double pointers as long as it is still moving and not parked by the road side or on the road.

    It is very common today for emergency vehicles, Police vehicles, military vehicles and several others to be using double pointers. It is against the law. when visibility is impaired (when it is cloudy or raining), you are to use the fog light or low beam and not the double pointers.

    When double pointers are used, nobody will be able to know when you want to turn right or turn left even as most drivers don’t remember to turn them off when turning thereby making their movements unpredictable to the oncoming and upcoming vehicles. This is an aspect of safety risk in driving.

    Communication is very important in driving but it must be adequately and correctly used to prevent confusion, accidents and fatalities.

  • Driving and communication

    Driving and communication

    Driving is a complex task which involves the simultaneous use of several organs of the body (eyes, ears, nose, brain, hands, and legs) in a continuously changing environment (smooth road, dusty road, roads dotted with potholes, wet road, cloudy road, dark road, etc.)

    Driving activities must be well co–ordinated, taking into consideration the activities of other road users with the goal of ensuring effective and safe vehicle control.

    At any point in time, a driver or rider must drive or ride predictably to prevent causing confusion for the upcoming and oncoming vehicles and other road users.

    Communication in driving involves the use of turn indicators (pointers), hands, hazard light (double pointers), reverse light, full and beam lights to communicate the situations or their intentions to other road users.

    There are however two very vital points which many drivers and riders(including vehicle owners) don’t know which I want to use this article to elaborate upon.

    1. Turn indicator (pointer) or hand is not the only signal to indicate that a driver or rider wants to make a turn to the right or to the left. The positioning of the vehicle is also an important signal as to where a vehicle wants to turn to. That is, whether you clearly see the pointer of the vehicle ahead of you or not, the moment you see that the front of the vehicle is tilting to the right or left, you should know that the vehicle is likely to make a turn to that direction where it is tilting to. This is another element of Hazard perception. It is also very vital that you always obey the following – distance rule to avoid being a victim in this type of situation.

    Therefore, drivers and riders must not take the turn indicator or pointer as the only signal they have to see before knowing that the vehicle ahead wants to make a turn. The driver may not know that the pointer is not working, may forget to switch it on or may deliberately move about without functional pointers.  It is however very important that every driver and rider should use the pointer and sometimes, hand to signal their intention to turn. This also should be done early enough and not too sudden.

    1. Hazard lights (double pointers) are not to be used when the vehicle is in motion. It is meant for faulty stationary vehicles. Any vehicle that is still moving on the road must not use double pointers, no matter the status of the drivers of such vehicles or their principals. If the vehicle has a fault or any form of challenge, it must not use double pointers as long as it is still moving and not parked by the road side or on the road.

    It is very common today for emergency vehicles, Police vehicles, military vehicles and several others to be using double pointers. It is against the law. when visibility is impaired (when it is cloudy or raining), you are to use the fog light or low beam and not the double pointers.

    When double pointers are used, nobody will be able to know when you want to turn right or turn left even as most drivers don’t remember to turn them off when turning thereby making their movements unpredictable to the oncoming and upcoming vehicles. This is an aspect of safety risk in driving.

    Communication is very important in driving but it must be adequately and correctly used to prevent confusion, accidents and fatalities.

  • Dakkada: Akwa Ibom’s change communication theme

    Dakkada: Akwa Ibom’s change communication theme

    With teasers running in traditional and social media days before its launch in September 23, many were oblivious of what Dakkada was all about. Akwa Ibom State Governor Emmanuel Udom, the architect of the new campaign, says it is a communication strategy that will spur his people to “Rise Up” and achieve greatness, ADEDEJI ADEMIGBUJI writes.

    It is one of the most compelling change communications strategies by any state in recent times. Marking the 28th anniversary of its creation, Akwa Ibom State appears to have found a new voice for its people and it is inspiring new hope. For a state whose citizens are stereotyped as ‘house-helps’, or at best ‘great cooks’, the campaign initiated by Governor Emmanuel Udom and tagged Dakkada meaning ‘Rise Up’, is expected to change the narrative for the state and its people.

    In one of the Dakkada social media campaigns, monitored by The Nation via YouTube, Udom affirms the new strategic direction and attitudinal change among Akwa Ibomites across socio-economic strata.  Titled: ‘Dàkkádà – Rise to the Faith of Greatness,’ the 1:03 seconds ad reveals a sky reflecting nightfall. Then came the governor, Udom. Decked in a typical Southsouth traditional suit and cap, he calls on the citizens: “Akwa Ibomites, rise to the faith of greatness.”  To enhance recall of the call to action, he says again, “Rise to the faith of greatness that with God all things are possible.”

    The next scenes show young people, technicians at work, fishermen casting a net from the canoe, professionals in the office environment working with zeal, the elders drinking palm wine, with the governor’s voice over saying: “Rise to the faith that as people, we can move beyond biases, ethnicity, religion and gender.”

    As his voice ran throughout the commercial, charging the citizens, he says: “Rise to togetherness, rise to chart a new course for us, our children and a generation of Akwa Ibomites unborn, hold fast the confession of hope, without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Displaying various actualities to communicate every line of the message, Udom showed passion about the rebirth of his people. The commercial, one of many produced, set the emotion, motivational tone with a strong leaning to the Bible.

    Also, some of the print ad copies monitored by The Nation explore endorsement of the campaign by citizens of the state who are doing great exploits in every sphere of life, adopted as models for the target of the campaign.

    The use of a palm in the entire communication materials symbolises the map of the state. But beyond the sloganeering, Udom while unveiling the campaign during the 28th anniversary of the state on September 23, said: “If we were to situate this moment in the context of the Bible, it would be that we have crossed River Jordan. Behind us is the wilderness and before us is the Promised Land. We can look back and remember our exodus from Cross River State, when God granted our wish 28 years ago, with the creation of this state that is appropriately named after Him. We can remember the years we toiled in the wilderness as house helps and servants in the nooks and crannies of our nation. Yes, we can still remember the days we wallowed in under-development and scorn as we struggled to find our feet and catch up with the other states in our country,” he said.

     

    The Dakkada creed

    He said the power behind the campaign is for people to change their mindset, despite militating factors.

    “But the greatest development is in the mind. Let every Akwa Ibom son and daughter know that no matter the circumstances they find themselves, they can rise and shine like a million stars. Let us rise to illuminate our world with our God-given talents and potentials. It is a product of the mind. If you can dream it, you can make it. But the demand of today, which has brought us together to launch this Dakkada campaign, is that we must rise up as a people, take the ark of faith and go around the walls so that they will tumble down like the walls of Jericho. That is the power behind the Dakkada campaign,” he affirmed.

    After the campaign launch, many are supporting the new journey, showing optimism in various write ups and sharing them online. One of such is Ezekiel Nya-Etok, the chairman, Social Advocacy Group, and a former governorship aspirant.

    He said: “On the 23rd of September, the state governor launched the Dakkada campaign. For me, it is about the most progressive action that any governor has so far taken. It is a campaign or crusade that I had wished was national.

    “Dakkada is an Ibibio word that simply means ARISE! On the surface, one might be too carried away by the challenges of the moment, but upon closer reflection, it is the call to the inner man to look beyond the challenges of the moment. It is the inspiration to call on the deep, to reach down to the inner strength, to reflect and refocus, to see beyond the physical, the ordinary, and the mundane. It is the X-Factor the defines the super- and the extra- in the natural and the ordinary.

    “It is the last strength that makes the difference between giving up, and crossing the finish line. It makes the man that was down to rise and the man that contemplated giving up to change his mind, and the man of excuses, to alter his confession. It is the stuff from which achievers are made, who will not give in to the challenges of the moment, but forge a new vision, a new paradigm, a new perspective, and a new motivation,” he said.

    Also, Mr. Ufot Udeme, Group Managing Director of SO & U Group, a marketing communication outfit, said: “The issue also tells us that Akwa-Ibom also parades distinguish personalities who have contributed their to the growth and development of Nigeria. When we look back at people, such as the late Dr. Clement Nyong Isong, who was a banker, politician, governor of Cross River State (1979–1983) and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria between 1967 and 1975, he happened to be one of the most successful CBN governors in history. He successfully managed the country’s finances throughout the civil war.

    “We didn’t borrow any money from any foreign institutions. We look at people such as Sir Egbert Udo Udoma, a lawyer and justice of the Nigerian Supreme Court. He was Chief Justice of Uganda from 1963 to 1969. He spent 13 years as a judge on the Supreme Court of Nigeria and was chairman of the Constituent Assembly from 1977 to 1978. We have so many others. So, they came to the conclusion that in fact our young people do not have fact to understanding our history as a people; and even the right values had not been what it should be,” he said.

    While the campaign explores faces of successful indigenes of the state in various communication materials, Udom, however, said it’s is the time to obey the Biblical injunction and wake up the mighty men and beat the pruning hooks into spears. “Now is the time to let our nation see our ingenuity. Now is the time for creativity and innovation in our land to manifest. Now is the time to wake up the mighty men and women so that our nation will know that we are a great people and a blessed generation,” he said.

    Meanwhile, with the campaign, Udom believes that having a slogan is not enough to change people’s mindset. He said it must be backed by commitment of government to state development and industrialisation.

    “On May 29, 2015, you graciously extended to me the mandate to be your governor. In the execution of this sacred trust as your governor and in observance of the oath I took before our God and our good people, we have spared no efforts in keeping faith with that covenant. During my electioneering campaign, I had laid out a bold plan in my five-point agenda of wealth creation, economic and political inclusion, poverty alleviation, infrastruc-tural consolidation and expansion and job creation. So far, we have kept our eyes on the ball, and this is evident through the numerous projects undertaken by this administration. We have so far undertaken the construction of 137 kilometers of road with 10 bridges spanning all the three Senatorial Districts. We have pursued the construction and completion of a second runway at the Ibom International Airport and a 1.2km underground drainage in Uyo by Nsikak Eduok/Oron road junction,” he noted.

  • Renux, Peoplelink partner on unified communication, telepresence

    Renux Media, an integrated service and communication solution company, has entered into strategic partnership to bring Peoplelink’s product,  Peoplelink Low Bandwidth Unified Communication and Telepresence to Nigeria.

    A statement by the firm explained that the solution  is integrated with image capture and compression technology, which enables it to deliver utmost picture quality at any capture resolution. For video encoding, transmission and decoding, Peoplelink solution makes use of H.264 VBR/CBR encryption protocols for video and G.273, G.711 and GIPS as audio compression algorithms, which ensure a stable audio video clarity under all network bandwidth conditions. The solution is most capable of achieving 1080p resolutions at the most optimal bandwidths.

    Renux Media’s External Communication Manager, Mr. Caleb Achu,  in a statement said,   Peoplelink Solution has come to unlock various doors of collaborative possibilities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), institutions of learning, religious organisations, health and manufacturing sectors, government and its agencies, non-government organisations and others.

    “Peoplelink is an ideal gateway into experiencing a ‘Smart City concept for Nigeria and Africa at large.

    “Corporate workers in Nigeria (urban and less cities) are no longer bound by the limitations of low bandwidth internet to collaborate, various religious bodies can now stream their events live or even schedule vital meetings with ease, students can now join classes seamlessly from their smart devices and laptop computers on-the-go, remote medical consultation/telemedicine is now readily possible and so much more,’’ he said.

    “Nigeria will be the Fifth major African Country to have the opportunity of experiencing Peoplelink VC Smart City Application. Other Countries include Ghana, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia. Smart and easy collaborations are now possibilities for all; it is left for us to decide how we will embrace it in order to jumpstart ourselves into a new borderless world of technological achievements,” Achu added.

     

  • Varsities need effective communication to motivate workers, says don

    With Nigerian universities sourcing workers from a limited pool of qualified experts, the Dean-elect, Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi  Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof Chris Ajila, has advised university administrators to communicate effectively with their workers.

    Ajila said this was the only way to discover what triggers their drive to succeed and maximise their performance.

    Ajila said this while delivering the second Registry lecture series of the Bells University of Technology, (BELLSTECH) Ota, with the  themed: “Managing Human Resources in the 21st Century University System: Challenges and Prospects” last Wednesday.

    Ajila, who has served as Dean, College of Management Science, BELLSTECH, lamented that the shortage of university workers has led to competition for them and also affected productivity as they prefer universities that can provide better condition of service.

    Quoting Maslow’s Hierachy of Needs, Ajila said except their physiological needs (food, sleep, thirst), as well as safety (stable environment), love, esteem and self realisation needs are met the human resource department is just paying a lip service.

    He, therefore, advised administrators to foster a close working relationship with every subordinate on an individual basis through effective communication.

    “A smile or a word of greeting when we see a colleague or boss reassures him that he matters. Have the sense not to monopolise conversations. A good talker avoids annoying mannerism of speech or gesture. We need to develop good listening skills and at times be at social ease with others whether they are clients, superiors, colleagues or juniors,” he said.

    With humans, being the most critical resource for national development, facing a lot of challenges, Ajila said managing human resources in the 21st century appears more complex.

    He noted that one of the forces affecting employees’ performance in the 21st century is technology, which keeps evolving.  He therefore charged employees to upgrade their skills.

    “Human resource management is being revolutionalised by the continuing advances in technology. Automation and other technology innovation may reduce the number of employees needed but they also increase the level of skills needed by employees who operate the new machines or systems.

    “There is need for today’s employees to get acquainted with and equipped for the new technology that is being introduced into the workplace,” he said.

    In her remarks, the registrar, Mrs Oluwayemisi Gbadebo, said the lecture provided administrators with the opportunity for professional development, which they need to remain in the system.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Isaac Adeyemi, said the registry is the heartbeat of any university which is connected to the achievement of the educational goal and the school’s objective.

    He advised non academic members of staff to stop feeling inferior to academics as they all contribute to the success of a university.