All set for The Sun Spokespersons’ Conference today in Abuja

… Buhari’s media adviser, Biakolo,  ex-presidents’ media aides to speak 

All is set for the two-day The Sun National Spokespersons’ Conference, kicking off in Abuja today.  The conference, which is organised in collaboration with the office of the Special Adviser, Media  & Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, holds at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre (Officers Mess & Suites), Kado, Abuja today and tomorrow November 9, 2016.

Expected to deliver the keynote address at the conference is Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Also to speak at the event are Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to President Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina;  ex-Special Assistant, Media, to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Ima Niboro; Mr. Emma Agu, former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and many others.

At the countdown to the conference, many media advisers, media assistants, chief press secretaries and others aides  in the media unit of governments officials at the federal and state levels have indicated interest to attend the conference. They include media aides to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, governors and ministers, among others.

Participants expected are spokespersons of government officials at the federal and state levels. They include special advisers and special assistant son media/publicity for principal officers in the executive, legislature and judiciary nationwide. The theme of the conference is: “Media, Public Affairs and Reputation Management in a Democracy: Strategies, Techniques and Perspectives.”

The spokespersons conference offers in-depth insight intolatest trends in government communication

and  information distributionstrategies, aimed at building and  sustaining trust as well as enhancingrelationship between the government and the ruled.

Participants at the conference are expected to tap from  broad-based knowledge and experiences of communication and media experts, withthe view to  learning techniques in promoting cooperation among citizens,stakeholders and government, especially as it relates to explaining merits of government action.

Speakers at the conference, apart from the Minister of Information and Culture, are: Prof Emevwo Biakolo, former Dean, School of Communication,Pan-Atlantic University; Mr.  Ray Ekpu, co-founder of Newswatch Magazine; Mr.Nosa Igiebor,  President, Tell Communications Limited; and Prof James Tsaakor,  Head, Mass Media and Writing Department, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University.

Others are Prof Nkereuwem Udoaka, Head, Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo; Dr. Rotimi  Oladele,  President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations;  Mr.  Emeka Oparah, Director, Communications, Airtel Nigeria and Mr. Moheed Musikilu, Managing Director, Premium Times Services Limited.

Speaking on the spokespersons conference, ManagingDirector/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Eric Osagie, said thecompany embarked on the project as its contribution to the public communications and political development of the country.

He said that since information management is critical, aplatform where people saddled with the responsibility of  information management would ensure that Nigerians understand what is going on at variouslevels of government, which will ensure peace and stability.

“Successful governments globally care for quality information management as a tool for the advancement of their policies. Thisrequires government spokespersons to posses the necessary skills to explaingovernment policies. When the government and the ruled understand themselves, peace, stability and development will be better guaranteed.”