- NIPR kcks off speech writing, protocol workshop in Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong has advocated more crucial roles for Public Relations (PR) Practitioners and Government Information Officers (GIOs) as part of their image/information management responsibilities.
The Commissioner made the call Tuesday, while declaring open a 3-Day International Speech Writing and Protocol Workshop organized by the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations ( NIPR ), Akwa Ibom State Chapter in Uyo .
The State’s spokesman remarked that the roles played by Information Managers, especially Government Information Officers were crucial to the overall perception of public officials and public institutions, thus the need to constantly train them on modern techniques in speech writing and image management .
The Info boss also stressed on the need for PR experts and IOs to strictly adhere to the professional ethics in order to sustain the confidence of their audience while marketing the image of the institutions and principals they work for.
” As Information officers, this workshop is designed to help you gain more in areas such as Speech Writing and Protocol Management, and to also build your capacity to undertake more crucial roles in your various parastatals ” .
”I am convinced that at the end of this Workshop, you would find it even easier to deliver on your core mandates, not just as IOs but as Image Managers and any other related roles that may be assigned to you at different times,” Ememobong emphasized.
According to the Information ministry helmsman, sustaining a robust public perception is key in the success equation of every institution and public official, therefore, the theme of the workshop was timely and commendable.
He also thanked the organizers for enlisting the services of seasoned professionals as resource persons for the training and called for more collaboration between NIPR and other stakeholders in the image management sector.
Delivering his Welcome Address, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of NIPR, Mr. Nsemeke Udoakpan said that the institute was poised to sanitize the profession, hence the workshop, which he noted was geared at preparing participants for effective image management roles.
On his part, the Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Mr. Joseph Eton Welcomed the participants, and hinted that the training was packaged to bring them up-to-speed with international best practices for higher productivity.
While participants for the training are drawn from different MDAs and beyond, the syllabus covered included, Reputation Management, Effective Speech Writing in Image and Reputation Management Equation, Modern Tactics in Protocol Management and Reputation Building in 21st Century.
The event which is holding at the Ibom e-library in Uyo, has attracted resource persons from the academia, local and international; including a renowned South African PR/Protocol guru, Mr. Victor Sibeko who delivered his lectures through zoom.
Others were: the Director General of Akwa Ibom State Broadcasting Corporation ( AKBC ) , Pastor Anietie Ukpe , and Dr. Nsikanabasi Nkana of the Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo.
