Nigeria’s Brand Now Sellable To Global Community-Abiodun

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday said various policies put in place by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration aimed at putting the country on the right economic trajectory have started yielding positive results.

According to him, Nigeria has now become an attractive brand that is sellable in the global community, saying it is incumbent on public relations specialists to start selling Nigeria’s renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu around the world as a way of attracting more investments to boost the real sector of the economy.

The governor spoke at the maiden edition of Nigeria Public Relations Week with the theme: Leveraging Public Relations As A Critical Asset For Nigeria’s Economic And Reputation Renaissance, held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta,

Abiodun, who was conferred as the Patron of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, also informed the practitioners of the need to help in showcasing the potentials that abound in Ogun State through their professional ingenuity.

Governor Abiodun emphasized the need for all Nigerians to be involved in promoting the good image of the country at all times.

He said: “Exploring the power and passion of public relations to engender speedy development and sustainable growth for an economic and reputational renaissance, as the theme of this week implies, is intrinsically an essential requirement for any government.

“I recall that in the last few months and following the appointment of Mr Yemi Cardoso the CBN Governor, as he rolled out his road map of monetary policies he kept on emphasizing the determination to embark on new public relations policy for the bank which has led to the successful management of forex.

“I want to say this exactly defines the leadership being provided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change the old order and entrench the image of a promising country with a consciousness of sustainability. Indeed, there can not be branding without a product.

“The right steps being taken by the Federal Government towards total regurgitation of the Nigerian macroeconomy, via the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President who started with very bold and decisive goals that have begun to yield positive and desired results to the admiration of patriotic Nigerians and the astonishment of pessimists.”

Abiodun noted that some of the economic policies such as the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of naira introduced by the government at the center to revamp the nation’s economy have started yielding positive results as the local currency gains momentum daily.

The governor described public relations as a strategic communication from an organization to the public to maintain or cultivate confidence and response to public discussion, adding that it remains a critical asset for any responsive government in the quest to build a vibrant economy and sustainable growth.

Public relations, the governor averred, focuses on the goals of an organization rather than the specific methods, saying it proffers necessary direction during economic turbulence, shapes images, and reputations, calling on the practitioners to help project the image of the State and country positively.

He explained that the state government since inception has embarked on massive infrastructural amenities towards creating an enabling environment to improve on the ease of doing business in the state which he said has made the state a choice of investment and fastest growing economy in the country

The governor while promising more developmental projects across the state, said that the current administration has constructed over 500 kilometers of roads across the state to ease the movement of the people, rehabilitated over 100 Primary Health Centres, and built over 4000 affordable houses as well as tackle insecurity by equipping security agencies with modern gadgets and patrol vehicles.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammed Idris, represented by the Director, of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Isa Lanre Onilu, in his remarks, said for Nigeria to realize her collective vision, there was the need for Nigerians to celebrate their achievements as well as address chart a new way forward.

While calling for the use of the power of communication, the Minister maintained that practitioners needed to fight against quackery and sanitize the profession, saying his mission was to restore trust in public communication, amplify good policies and programs, inspire and reorient national values, recognize quality and talents in the federal government information and communication system an ND create an enabling environment for the media to thrive.

President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku said public relations is all about the management of reputation and perception as the difference between one country and another is reputation.

He said practitioners of public relations are making important contributions all over the world, saying that it is important to perform their duties without hindrance, as the profession is a key to all things as no organization or government could go far without adequate management of reputation and relationships.

Dr. Neliaku said Ogun State was chosen to host the event considering its position in terms of recording firsts in the country, emphasizing that Governor Abiodun was conferred with the title by the constitution of the institute that allowed it to honor any governor with a track record and that has impacted significantly in the development of his state.

The governor, who was made a patron of the institute, also donated a brand new bus and a befitting secretariat to the Ogun branch of the institute.