NIPR Spokesperson Summit: We must learn to communicate – Egbewole       

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has applauded the commendable initiative taken by the President and Council Members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) towards organising a spokespersons summit dedicated to addressing the imperative for strategic communication in Nigeria.

While congratulating the NIPR for introducing the concept of the spokespersons summit, the Vice Chancellor said that we can never over-engage ourselves, especially in this period of our nationhood,adding that, “The more we talk to ourselves, the more we communicate with ourselves, the better for us as a people”.

Prof. Egbewole shared this belief last Thursday (March 7, 2024) while receiving an advocacy team from the NIPR, which visited the University to brief him about the upcoming summit.

The Vice Chancellor, however, affirmed UNILORIN’s commitment to active engagement and understanding of pertinent issues.

 In support of the NIPR’s initiative, Prof. Egbewole pledged the University’s sponsorship of relevant staff for participation in the summit.

He encouraged all the staff members that would be sponsored by the University to step-down the acquired knowledge through a “train the trainers” approach to others who would not be participating.

While expressing gratitude to the NIPR, particularly the President and a Council Member, Dr Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, for the consistent engagement with the University, the Vice Chancellor hoped that the love for the institution would be enduring.

The renowned Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law assured that UNILORIN would continue to nurture its relationship  with the NIPR.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the advocacy team and Commissioner for Communications, Kwara State, Mrs Bola Olukoju, who spoke through a Council Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, said that the advocacy visit was to intimate the Vice Chancellor about the forthcoming spokespersons summit.

The summit with the theme “Change Narrative, Change Society”, the NIPR advocacy team explained that the summit is aimed at expanding the horizons of communication in the country and promoting positive societal transformation.

She explained that the essence of the summit is to address the critical need for strategic communication to foster development and peace in Nigeria as it was born out of rigorous research that was conducted across the nooks and crannies of the country.

She added, “As a response, the council is hosting the inaugural spokesperson’s summit in Abuja from March 25 to 28. This gathering will bring together spokespersons from various sectors – private, public, and non-governmental organisations – to deliberate on moving the nation forward and addressing insecurity through effective communication’’.

Mrs Olukoju, therefore, solicited support from the Vice Chancellor to send staff from the University’s communication unit as participants, saying, they would come back better.

Joining the Vice Chancellor to receive the NIPR Spokespersons Summit Advocacy Team included the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Suleiman Folorunsho Ambali; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Ag. Bursar, Mr Abdulbarki Oba; the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun; and the Station Manager of UNILORIN 89.3 FM, Mr Idris Akintola Ibrahim (Alooma), among others.