Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that various policies put in place by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration aimed at putting the country on the right economic trajectory have started yielding positive results.
According to him, Nigeria has now become an attractive brand that is sellable in the global community, saying it is incumbent on public relations specialists to start selling Nigeria’s renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu around the world as a way of attracting more investments to boost the real sector of the economy.
The governor spoke at the maiden edition of Nigeria Public Relations Week with the theme: Leveraging Public Relations As A Critical Asset For Nigeria’s Economic and Reputation Renaissance, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun, who was conferred as the Patron of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, also informed the practitioners of the need to help in showcasing the potential that abounds in Ogun State through their professional ingenuity.
Governor Abiodun emphasized the need for all Nigerians to be involved in promoting the good image of the country at all times. He said: “Exploring the power and passion of public relations to engender speedy development and sustainable growth for an economic and reputational renaissance, as the theme of this week implies, is intrinsically an essential requirement for any government.
“I recall that in the last few months and following the appointment of Yemi Cardoso, the CBN Governor, as he rolled out his road map of monetary policies, he kept on emphasizing the determination to embark on a new public relations policy for the bank, which has led to the successful management of forex.
“I want to say this exactly defines the leadership being provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the old order and entrench the image of a promising country with a consciousness of sustainability. Indeed, branding can not exist without products.
“The right steps are being taken by the Federal Government towards total regurgitation of the Nigerian macroeconomy, via the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, who started with very bold and decisive goals that have begun to yield positive and desired results to the admiration of patriotic Nigerians and the astonishment of pessimists.”
Abiodun noted that some of the economic policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of naira introduced by the government at the centre of revamping the nation’s economy, have started yielding positive results as the local currency gains momentum on a daily basis.
The governor described public relations as a strategic communication from an organization to the public to maintain or cultivate confidence and response to public discussion, adding that it remains a critical asset for any responsive government in the quest to build a vibrant economy and sustainable growth.
Public relations, the governor averred, focuses on the goals of an organization rather than the specific methods, saying it proffers necessary direction during economic turbulence, shapes images and reputations, and calls on the practitioners to help project the image of the state and country in a positive way.
He explained that the state government, since inception, has embarked on massive infrastructural amenities to create an enabling environment to improve the ease of doing business in the state, which he said has made the state a choice of investment and fastest growing economy in the country
The governor, while promising more developmental projects across the state, said that the current administration has constructed over 500 kilometres of roads across the state to ease the movement of people, rehabilitated over 100 primary health centres, built over 4000 affordable houses, and tackled insecurity by equipping security agencies with modern gadgets and patrol vehicles.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, represented by the Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Isa Lanre Onilu, in his remarks, that for Nigeria to realize her collective vision, there was a need for Nigerians to celebrate their achievements as well as chart a new way forward.
While calling for the use of the power of communication, the Minister maintained that it was imperative for practitioners to fight against quackery and sanitize the profession, saying his mission was to restore trust in public communication, amplify good policies and programmes, inspire and reorient national values, recognized quality and talents in the federal government information and communication system, and create an enabling environment for the media to thrive.
President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku said public relations is all about the management of reputation and perception, as the difference between one country and another is reputation.
He said practitioners of public relations are making important contributions all over the world, saying that it is important to allow them to perform their duties without hindrance, as the profession is a key to all things, and no organization or government could go far without adequate management of reputations and relationships.
Dr. Neliaku said Ogun State was chosen to host the event considering its position in terms of recording firsts in the country, emphasizing that Governor Abiodun was conferred with the title in accordance with the constitution of the institute that allowed it to honour any governor with a track record that has impacted significantly in the development of his state.
The governor, who was made a patron of the institute, also donated a brand new bus and a befitting secretariat to the Ogun branch of the institute.
