Save Nigeria’s image with your publications, FEDPOFFA Rector tells media professionals

Media professionals have been urged to ensure responsible reporting of events in the country and shun sensationalism to save both the image of the country and its citizens.

Speaking at an interactive media parley, themed, “The Imperative of Strategic Media Relations For Crisis Communication and Reputation Management”, organized by the Department of Communication and Media Studies, School of Communication and Media Studies, Federal Polytechnic Offa, in Offa Kwara state on Tuesday, the Rector  Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru, said journalists should endeavour to unite the people rather than make them enemies against each other in their various reportage. 

“There’s need to be careful of what we write about our country. Journalists should use their pens to unite and develop the country, and not to destroy the people and the country. 

“This is more so, because no country will take or absorb us with our large population of about 240million people should this country disintegrate, God forbids. 

I just returned from Denmark of 6million people. Is it Denmark that will take us or the US or Ghana that’s already chasing us away from the country? We should always continue to make efforts to unite and contribute to nation’s development in our write ups rather than pushing out negativity because the damage caused therefrom would reflect on us all as individual Nigerians both within and when we travel outside the country”, he said. 

The Rector also called on managers in the mainstream media world to do more at distinguishing themselves from unprofessional bloggers, “who push sensational stories only to attract traffic to their sites”. 

Dr. Kadiri also explained reasons behind unbundling of Mass Communication at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, saying the step was taken to align with global best practices

“It is to enhance career opportunities for our students, foster skillful specialization, improve the overall quality of education and ultimately increase the employability of our graduates in the ever-competitive labour market”, he said. 

In his keynote address, Professor Adepoju Tejumaiye of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, said that organizations cannot do without full support of the mass media.

Professor Tejumaiye called on organizations to have a robust media relations in order to maintain good reputation with the outside world.

In his remarks, the Head of Department of Communication and Media Studies School of Communication and Media Studies, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Jimoh Olorede, said the vision of the department is to enhance career opportunities for graduands in strategic adherence to the best practices.

He said the event is meant to foster the meeting of scholars on issues that has to do with strategic management of media relations.

Dr. Olorede explained that effective media relations is crucial in this  era of communication development.

In his remarks the Dean Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. David Oloyede, said the institution unbundling of the department is a good thing for the institution.

He commended the management of the institution for promoting excellence at all times.