NIPR: Participants Count Gains at 3 days Speech Writing and Protocol Workshop
Evelyn-A. Ibanga
With broad smiles on their faces, which suggested satisfaction, participants of the “International Speech Writing and Protocol’ Workshop”, organized by the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, excitedly spoke on the benefits of the training, saying their knowledge has been enhanced to excel in the two key areas.
In an interaction with some of the participants, who were largely State Information Officers, shortly after Day 1 of the workshop which held at the Ibom E- Library, IBB Avenue, Uyo, they described the training, which will hold for 3 days, as apt and rewarding.
Baring her mind, the Director of Public Relations in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Grace Akpan, who participated in the training, said that the workshop was very impactful, adding that her knowledge in Public Relations duties, Image Management and Diplomacy, has been sharpened.
“It’s a very impactful training, It has increased our knowledge on P.R, Image Management for Government and for other establishments. It has shown us the way forward on how to handle protocol duties. It has introduced us to Diplomacy, which is very important in relationship between government and stakeholders.
“I am so happy about the programme. I am happy that the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, has sponsored a lot of Information officers who are the image managers in their different establishments, to attend the workshop”.
Mrs. Akpan added, ” I want to express my deep appreciation to the people-oriented Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel , as you can see, the E – Library has taken a new shape, the ambience has been very congenial for the workshop”.
Also, Mr. Edem Okon, an Information Officer in the Office of the Head of Civil Service, had this to say, “Let me start by saying that nobody can claim to know it all, there is always something new to learn. I have learnt so much on Protocol Duties and Speech Writing that will help me add value to my speech writing efforts and successfully conduct affairs in my beat. I can say, it has been worthwhile”.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ememobong, who declared the event open, noted that there has been a sharp decline in the quality of speeches made by public officers, globally, tasking the participants to take the training seriously in order to garner knowledge that will aid them to ‘up their game’ in reversing the trend in their respective organizations.
Comrade Ememobong also pointed out that while Heads of Organizations and Establishments may unintentionally attract envy and criticism in the course of discharging their official duties, it is incumbent on the participants, as Information Managers and Public Relations practitioners to earn them friends and goodwill.
He expressed appreciation to the NIPR for organizing the event with seasoned Resource Persons and hoped that the exercise would be a regular feature in the state.
Day 1 of the seminar featured a paper on “Effective Speech Writing in Image and Reputation Management Equation”, by the Director General of Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation, Pastor Anietie Ukpe. Another paper on “Reputation Management:: the How, the What, When, Where and Why in speech writing”, was presented by the Head of Communication Arts Department, University of Uyo, Prof. Nsikanabasi Nkanga, while, “Modern Tactics in Protocol Management and Reputation building in the 21st Century”, was presented by Mr. Victor Sibeko via zoom from South Africa.
