Job creation, nation building dominate Lagos PR 2023 stakeholders’ conference
By Ibidunni Banjoko
To proffer solutions to unemployment and nation building, the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has held the 10th edition of Lagos PR Stakeholders’ Conference with the theme, “Employment Creation and National Building”.
The event, which held on 31st August 2023, at Civic Center Lagos, gathered dignitaries such as Femi Adesina, former Senior Adviser, Media and Publicity to President Mohammadu Buhari; Dr. Ike Neliaku, President & Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Dept. of Mass Communication, University of Lagos; Dr. Rotimi Oladele, former President and Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Dr. Austin Tam-George, a communication and public policy consultant, amongst others.
The Chairman, Lagos NIPR, Comfort Obot Nwankwo,in her welcome address, said: “The Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders conference has become a major event in the annual calendar of the Institute. It has become a veritable platform to discuss and proffer solutions to the social, political and economic challenges plaguing our nation. We are committed to sustaining this platform as a way of contributing to the development of our dear country.”
“The Lagos State Chapter of NIPR is committed to professionalism and excellence. As the Premier Chapter in the institute we will continue to create and collaborate with innovative platforms that aligns with our vision and mission,” she added.
Olabamiji Adeleye, lead consultant, Addefort Limited & the conference convener, stated that the theme for this landmark edition is a deliberate effort to address a key social issue to avoid national crisis.
“There is no denying the fact that the country today is facing a major problem in Unemployment and underemployment. We have to discuss possible solutions to the increasing rate of unemployment and related issues in the country. This is something that the present government is not shying away from, and seems to have identified as a problem that requires serious and urgent attention,” he mentioned.
While commenting on the theme, Olumide Sogunle, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State ministry of information and strategy, who represented the Lagos State Governor, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, urged Nigerian youth to pay attention to the government in other to see and grab the opportunities provided by the government. He further encouraged the youth to make an effort, noting that Nigeria will be good at their time.
Also commenting on the theme, Dr. Ike Neliaku, president & chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), tasked Public Relations practitioners and stakeholders to ensure that the issue of unemployment is addressed.
According to him, the success or failure of any nation does not only depend on the leadership alone, it’s also the function of followers. He said: “We can not only criticize but help with a solution. This aligns with the reason for our gathering today not to only look at the problem but to provide possible solutions and way forward.”
“This is about being proactive, leveraging a key element of public relations, that is creating the right engagement platform of stakeholders that ensures that issues do not become a crisis,” he added.
On his part, Femi Adesina urged the PR practitioners to keep setting agendas as agenda-setting is a continuous exercise.
In his words, Dr. Rotimi Oladele reiterated that the way forward must be revolutionary and sacrificial.
“We need to move away from literacy to functional education. Policy makers and law makers should be volunteers with wisdom, expertise and experience who need no “Ghana must go” bags of money to do the needful.”
He continued: “Let our educational institutions be, at primary level, route learning and practical demonstration of what cognitive, affective and psychomotor can do. At Secondary, artisanship built on talents, passion and creativity propelled by well kitted learning environment and competent teachers, mentors and coaches.
“At tertiary level, specialization and a well-funded and learning environment to drive key economy-driven fields such as agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas, water resources, Engineering/Manufacturing, healthcare and environmental sustainability (Dubai Policy) and (China Data examples) (Russia).”
“Schools should work more with the reality of resources of their catchment environments. Half of the period of service by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) should be for capacity building in entrepreneurship training, rather than building megacities which will increase risks of all types and pollution unlimited,” he stated.
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