To proffer solution to employment creation and national building, the Lagos Public Relations professionals have held it 10th edition of stakeholders’ conference which has the theme “employment creation and national building”.
The event held on 31st August 2023 at Civic center Lagos. It gathered Nigeria dignitaries like Mr. Femi Adesina, former Senior Adviser, Media and Publicity to President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President & Chairman of council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Prof. Abigail Ogwezzy – Ndisika, Dept. of mass communication, University of Lagos, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, former President and Chairman of council Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Austin Tam-George, communication and public policy consultant, amongst others.
The Chairman, Lagos NIPR, Mrs. Comfort Obot Nwankwo in her welcome address said: “The Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders conference has become a major event in the annual calendar of the Institute, it has become a veritable platform to discuss and proffer solutions to the social, political and economic challenges plaguing our nation. We are committed to sustaining this platform as a way of contributing to the development of our dear country”.
“The Lagos State Chapter of NIPR is committed to professionalism and excellence, as the Premier Chapter in the institute we will continue to create and collaborate with innovative platforms that aligns with our vision and mission”, she stated.
Olabamiji Adeleye, lead consultant, Addefort Limited & the conference convener, stated that the theme for this landmark edition, STAKEHOLDERS’ CONVERSATIONS ON EMPLOYMENT CREATION AND NATION BUILDING, is a deliberate effort to address a key social issue to advert national crisis.
“There is no denying the fact that the country today is facing a major problem in Unemployment and underemployment. We have to discuss possible solutions to the increasing rate of unemployment and related issues in the country. This is something that the present government is not shying away from, and seems to have identified as a problem that requires serious and urgent attention”, he mentioned.
While commenting on the theme, Mr. Olumide Sogunle, Permanent Secretary, of the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy who represented the Lagos State Governor, Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, urges Nigerian youth to pay attention to the government in other to see and grab the opportunities provided by the government.
He further encourages the youth to make an effort that Nigeria will be good at their time.
Also commenting on the theme, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and chairman of the council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) tasked Public Relations practitioners and stakeholders to ensure that the issue of unemployment is addressed.
According to him, the success or failure of any nation is not only dependent on the leadership alone it’s also the function of followers. He said: “We can not only criticize but help with a solution. This aligns with the reason for our gathering today not to only look at the problem but to provide possible solutions and way forward”.
“This is about being proactive, leveraging on the key element of public relations, that is creating the right engagement platform of stakeholders that ensure that issues do not become a crisis”. He added.
On his part, Femi Adesina urges the PR practitioners to keep setting agendas as agenda setting is a continuous exercise.
In his words, Dr. Rotimi Oladele reiterated that the way forward must be revolutionary and sacrificial, “We need to move away from literacy to functional education. Policymakers and lawmakers should be volunteers with wisdom, expertise, and experience who need no “Ghana must go” bags of money to do the needful”.
He continued: “Let our educational institutions be: at Primary level, route learning and practical demonstration of what cognitive, affective and psychomotor can do, at Secondary, artisanship built on talents, passion, and creativity propelled by well-kitted learning environment and competent teachers, mentors, and coaches, at tertiary level.
“Specialization and well-funded and learning environment to drive key economy-driven fields such as agriculture, solid minerals, oil, and gas; water resources, Engineering/Manufacturing, Healthcare and Environmental sustainability (Dubai Policy) and (China Data examples) (Russia)”.
“Schools should work more with the reality of resources of their catchment environments. Half of the period of service by NYSC should be for capacity building in entrepreneurship training. Rather than building Megacities which will increase risks of all types and pollution unlimited”, he stated.
