From Tony John, Port Harcourt

Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has assembled experts to train Niger Delta ex-agitators and members of its Strategic Communication Committee (SCC) on skills required to change negative public perception about the region.

A certified consultant in human behaviour, Collins Nwosu, a business improvement and communication tutor, Barbara Lawrence and a Public Relations expert and journalist, Muyiwa Akintunde, have been named as lead facilitators for the second edition of PAP’s workshop for SCC members.

The Interim Administrator, Col Milland Dixon Dikio (retd), who mandated PAP’s Communications Consultant, First Media Network Limited, to organise the training programme, said the workshop, which has its theme “Communication for Positive Impact”, is scheduled for August 2 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and designed to ensure that the committee is well-prepared for its tasks.

Dikio said: ‘The goal of this training is to ensure constant communication and improved relations across the board, particularly as it concerns the need to change the negative public perception about the region with a view to securing the much-needed peace and economic development in the Niger Delta.

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‘It is imperative to give people the tools needed to succeed which is the reason for this training. We are ensuring that they are adequately equipped to help change the narrative about the Niger Delta region. The skill we are giving them is one they can use in different areas of their lives and will be of great benefit to the programme as well.’

Speaking on the proposed second edition of the workshop, members of the committee said the first edition helped them to understand issues in the region better, identify and discourage misinformation about PAP and the Niger Delta.

Chairman of the committee Nature Kieghe said: ‘The last workshop was enlightening and helped us to build confidence in communicating and I am looking forward to learning more communication skills from the workshop.

‘I can proudly say that the current IA, Col. Dikio, does not just say something, he follows through on his words. Which is why we are excited to work with him for the development of our beautiful region.’