Reputation management and communications specialist, Dr Jossy Nkwocha, on Tuesday, identified solutions to Nigeria’s integration crisis.
He spoke at the two-day Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace, and Security organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), holding at the International Conference Centre, Abuja and declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by the Minister of Information, Mr. Lai Mohammed.
Dr Nkwocha’s lecture titled “Building Reputation of Excellence as Core National Asset: Framework, Strategies, Tools and Actions”, noted key measures in rebuilding the country to achieve desired unity, economic prosperity, and social cohesion.
According to him, Government should muster the political will to re-order Nigeria in line with the national anthem, motto and constitution.
“Let social justice, equity, federal character and all the ideals enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) be respected and implemented to reduce cries of marginalization.”
“Let the Federal Government manage our diversities appropriately, knowing that the country has over 250 ethnic groups, each of which wants to enjoy the commonwealth,”
“Let excellence, merit, best practice, innovations be the hallmark of government at all levels in Nigeria,” he said.
To achieve economic prosperity, Nkwocha, a Fellow of NIPR, suggested that Government should create incentives for local and foreign investors and do away with policy summersaults and harsh investment decisions that put investors out of balance.
The paper delivered on Dr Nkwocha’s behalf by Chinedum Emeana, a corporate communications professional, also spoke on how to achieve political stability.
“Let politics of ideas, politics without bitterness and inclusive politics be the ethos of Nigeria’s national politics.
The lecture moderated by Mr Olushina Thorpe, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Lagos State, also identified solution to the security crisis in Nigeria.
“Let the Federal Government declare a national emergency on insecurity and deal decisively with all manner of banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, unknown gunmen, etc to stop the current bloodletting in the country.
“Let crime and criminality across the country be treated with equal intensity and severity, with no sacred cows whatsoever,” he declared.
Dr Nkwocha stated that when there is peace, unity and security in Nigeria, tourists and investors will be attracted.
“Let the Government develop all our tourism sites across the country to attract tourists.”
“Let us use sports, movies, creative arts, our beautiful cultures and traditions to recreate and project a New Nigeria of our dream,” he said.
Dr Nkwocha’s paper ended by asking the President to appoint a Minister on Brand Nigeria, whose responsibility would be to help the Government to build, monitor, manage and sustain positive reputation for the country.
“Let the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria know that he is the Chief Reputation Officer (CRO) of the country and all his utterances, actions and inactions can affect the reputation of the country.
“The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) should act as moral compass across the country to get government to do the right thing at the right time,” he advised.
President of NIPR, Mallam Muktar Sirajo said the Summit was the institute’s imitative to rebuild the nation to bring about national integration, peace, unity and security.