Shettima, Sani call for shift in how government policies are communicated
Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, have called for a fundamental shift in how government policies are communicated, identifying strategic Public Relations as the “missing link” between policy conception and successful implementation.
The leaders spoke on Tuesday during the opening of the third Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) in Kaduna. The event, themed “Nigeria’s Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plates – The Imperatives of Public Relations,” coincided with the historic commissioning of the Brigadier General Abba Kyari Banquet Hall at the Kaduna State Government House.
Delivering his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized that the success of the current administration’s reforms hinges on public understanding and trust. He warned that technical policy language often creates a barrier between the government and the governed.
”Governance cannot afford to be distant. Policy cannot afford to be opaque. Leadership cannot afford to speak a language the people no longer understand,” Shettima declared. He described Public Relations not as a mere promotional tool, but as a “strategic function of governance” essential for managing uncertainty and building lasting trust.
He challenged practitioners to translate complex government initiatives into “human meaning” to mitigate public resistance and foster national unity.
Governor Uba Sani, who was formally honored as a Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), linked the conference theme directly to the state’s development agenda.
He noted that moving from “policy paper to plate” requires more than just resources; it requires “credibility, clarity, and connection.”
“In Kaduna, we are repositioning agriculture from the margins to the center of our development agenda to ensure food security is continuous, not seasonal,” the Governor stated.
He further argued that PR is a “central pillar of governance” rather than a peripheral function, serving as the bridge that ensures government intentions result in real-world impact for the citizens.
The keynote speaker, Ambassador Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge, a renowned pan-African food security expert and CEO of Elpasso Farms, alerted stakeholders that food security is a “critical pillar of national stability.”
She urged Nigeria to address the disconnect between its vast agricultural potential and the actual delivery of food to the public, citing communication gaps as a major hurdle to implementation.
Earlier, the President of the NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, framed the week as a strategic intervention to contribute to good governance. He lauded the “Kaduna Peace Model” and Governor Sani’s inclusive leadership style, suggesting it should serve as a national template for community relations.
Dr. Neliaku also used the platform to make a major announcement: “Nigeria will host the Global Summit on Public Relations in November 2026, welcoming delegates from 160 nations to our shores.”
The event marks a significant milestone for the NIPR as it continues to advocate for the professionalization of communication across all levels of the Nigerian government.
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