The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) through its citizens summit report has given 100 recommendations directed at charting a new course towards addressing identified national challenges.
The 165 pages report provides the framework for installation of a new Nigeria with series of strategic activities and programmes assembled along thematic areas that covers the youth, women, security, education, economy, industry, foreign investment, national reputation and integration and inclusive governance.
The report also recommends the establishment of a National Reputation Management Group (NRMG) with National Orientation Agency (NOA) and NIPR as co-drivers to institutionalise strategic story-telling and reputation management activities, as well as, strengthen the role of stakeholders and MDAs in the strategic communication process of building a reputation of excellence for nigeria.
At the public presentation of the report in Abuja, the president and chairman, governing council of the institute, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo said the citizens summit, was borne out of an objective assessment of the state of the nation, analysis of findings from credible sources on certain challenges confronting Nigeria, and a clear conviction that Nigerian citizens , at home and abroad were yearning for a platform that would offer them the opportunity to peacefully ventilate their concerns and contribute to the dialogue on nation building and proffer realistic solutions.
According to him, the report collated laudable contributions of Nigerian citizens during the summit for implementable policy interventions by the governments at various levels, relevant private sector players and other stakeholders.
He said, “Our situational analysis revealed among other issues that all was not well with the state of affairs in the land. While there was loss of hope among the youth, the trust gap between the people and state institutions was widening fast; social tension mounted across the land and violent aspirations and agitations threatened the very foundation of our national existence.
It is also our hope that as the new administration in the country settles down with the business of governance, it will find this report useful, especially in policy formulation in the areas that the summit deliberated upon and made recommendations accordingly”.
“let me reaffirm our belief in the capacity of Nigeria to succeed and overcome its current challenges, hence the need for all Nigerians to join hands with the government in rebuilding trust, in strengthening our unity, in rebuilding the peace, in ensuring our security, in stimulating the economy and in healing the wounds of the past”, Sirajo added.
Presenting the final report in Abuja, Pro Chancellor of Bingham University, Prof Andrew Haruna stressed that report will assist the government and the people of Nigeria in charting a new course for the economic, political, educational and social development of Nigeria.
Prof Samu Dandaura who highlighted the report, said every Nigerian at home and abroad has a role to play andneed to join hands to rebooting Nigeria.
