As part of strategies for promoting national
peace and security, the United Nations Women has called for women’s inclusion
in national peace-building processes to check the rate of insecurity in Nigeria.
Speaking at the seventh Lagos Public
Relations Stakeholders Conference, a web edition, themed: Adopting Proper Communication Strategy,
Channels and Technology for National Peace and Stability in Nigeria, held
on Thursday, August 27, 2020, the Programme Specialist, Women, Peace &
Security, UN Women, Peter Mancha noted that, Though women bear the brunt of
major conflicts across the country, but they are largely excluded in the peace-building
processes.
He noted that the peace architecture in Nigeria must integrate strategic mechanisms to
enhance effective & efficient communications system with stakeholders. Mancha added that the traditional platforms
and new media technologies should both be fully utilized for conflict
prevention, including early warning and early response systems.
He submitted that, Coordination among state
and non-state actors through synergy and effective communication is key; traditional/religious Institutions, women networks
and CSOs are critical stakeholders in the peacebuilding process; Civil-Military Relations need to be
strengthened confidence building among the public to enhance dissemination of
information; the Social Media, despite the
challenges of access and poor information management, remains an important
instrument in peace building because of its capacity to inform and promote
inclusion in the peace building process.”
Other speakers at the
event included the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of
Public Relations, Mukhtar Sirajo; President Africa Public Relations
Association, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Chief Executive Officer, Image Merchants
Promotion Limited, Yushau Shuaib; Lead
Consultant, NECCI Ltd, Nkechi Ali-Balogun and Chief Executive, Goldwater &
RiverSand Consult, Captain Aliyu U. Babangida (Rtd).
Muktar Sirajo noted that, Public relations or communication provide a platform for a peaceful and
harmonious existence among the people, given its core role of relationship
building and relationship mending, where it cracks.” He added that the “Nigerian
Public Relations family is available to play the leading role expected of it in
bringing our people together to harness our God-endowed diversity for the
pursuit of the common good.
Yushau Shuaib highlighted
the roles of communicators in crisis management and advised communicators to
play a leading role in promoting peace, security, stability, and good
governance as well as in the settlements of disputes. He added that the government,
partners, and security services can capitalize on modern communication tools,
especially social media to manage the narratives in the battle of ideas to
enhance intelligence gathering and promote peace through efficient and
effective communication delivery.
Yomi Badejo-Okusanya
calls on public relations professional to lead the narrative for national peace
and security in the country. According to him, Public Relations is the missing
link in achieving peace and security in the country.
Aliyu Babangida, observed
that proper security communication is absent in the country. He averred that
the flow of communication is not effective and that there is a need for the
people to have confidence in the system.
The Convener of the event and Lead
Consultant Addefort Limited, Olabamiji Adeleye, explained that the Conference
has been consistent in actualizing its set vision; To be a bridge-building
talker-shop for stakeholders to interact, discuss and proffer solutions to the
social, political and economic challenges plaguing our nation. The focus this
year is on national peace and stability because nothing meaningful can be
achieved in an atmosphere of public unrest and anarchy.”
The conference is organized
by Addefort Limited in collaboration with the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian
Institute of Public Relations, and Peace and Conflict Resolution Center
(PEACrEc).
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