Speaker urges ethical communication to strengthen democracy
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has emphasised the urgent need for ethical leadership communication to deepen Nigeria’s democratic values.
He made this call on Wednesday during the Spokespersons Summit, jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, held in Abuja.
“After 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, Nigeria has reached a point where our communication of leadership and policy must reflect the maturity of our democratic process,” Abbas stated.
He warned that the spread of misinformation poses a threat to democratic integrity, stressing that public relations should not be seen as spin or propaganda but as a vehicle for truth.
“When communication is rooted in integrity, citizens are empowered to make informed decisions and hold leaders accountable,” he added.
At the summit, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc was honoured as the Most Influential Corporate Voice in Nigeria at the 2025 National Spokespersons Awards, which marked the conclusion of the 2nd Nigeria Spokespersons Summit.
According to the Chairman of the Awards Planning Committee, Segun McMedal, Julius Berger was recognised alongside two other corporate organisations for their impact as influential voices during the 2024/25 review period.
McMedal outlined the award criteria, which included clarity, consistency, and effectiveness of communication; adaptability to various media platforms while maintaining message integrity; frequency and quality of media engagements such as interviews, press releases, and op-eds; and the ability to craft compelling narratives aligned with organisational goals.
He added that the evaluation also considered the use of emerging communication technologies, media visibility, storytelling skills, and measurable outcomes of public relations efforts.
“These factors were instrumental in determining our corporate voices of choice,” McMedal noted.
In a related development, Media Relations Manager at Julius Berger,Emmanuel Isibor, received the Outstanding Spokesperson, Crisis Management (Private Sector) Award.
Ahead of the awards ceremony, NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, stated that the summit was designed as a platform to recognise and empower spokespersons, forming part of a broader national communication strategy.
Declaring the summit open, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, praised the NIPR as a “compelling imprimatur of professionalism” in Nigeria’s public relations landscape.
