Photo: L>R: S.A to DG NIMASA,, Ubong Essien; Assistant Director Public Relations NIMASA, Sheibe Abe: Col. Aliyu Yusuff, Ag. Commandant NASPRI: Marce Anyanwu, PR Consultant & Dr. Suraj Olunifesi, Mass Communication Dept. UNILAG
By Ruth Sunday
The Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI) in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) on Tuesday, 30th November,2021 organised a one-day workshop for Maritime Reporters in Lagos.
The workshop which took place at NASPRI Auditorium, Bonny Cantonment, Victoria Island, Lagos had its theme as, “An Assessment of Pattern of Reportage among Nigerian Maritime Journalists, Implications for Preservation of National Security and Foreign Direct Investment”.
Col. A.Yusuf, Ag. Commandant, NASPRI
Speaking at the occasion, the Acting Commandant of NASPRI, Col. Aliyu Yusuf said that Maritime Industry occupies a very prominent position in the economy of the nation, Nigeria.
Col. Aliyu posited that Maritime Industry has been estimated as bigger than oil and gas industry, stressing that if properly harnessed, according to an industry expert, the sector has the potential to realise more than trillions for the country.
According to him, “we all have our individual responsibility to do our best through our reportage to see how we can contribute our quota towards enhancing the economy of the country.
“All of us here have one thing or the other to contribute either in terms of political development, economic development, military development and all that. So, we all have to come together, to see what we can contribute, at our own levels to develop the country.”
In his opening remarks, the Director General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh who commended Journalists for their contributions in the development of the industry and the nation at large through their reportage, assured of the Agency’s support and continued capacity building, for efficiency and effectiveness of their professional responsibility.
L-R: Ubong Essien receiving Award on behalf of DG NIMASA, Dr. B. Jamoh From Col. Aliyu Yusuf, Ag. Commandant, NASPRI
Dr. Jamoh represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Strategic Communication, Ubong Essien said, “Nigeria as a coastal nation, we should make both local and International Maritime community to know our Maritime strength. You Journalists hold the key to realising this.”
Prof. Abigail Ogwezz-Ndisika, of the Dept. Of Mass Communication, UNILAG
In her lecture titled, “Ethics, Skills and Personal Qualities to Improve Maritime Reportage, Professor Abigail Ogwezz- Ndisika advised Journalists to operate within the ambit of code of ethics governing the profession of Journalism.
“Although, objectivity, balance, fairness, social responsibility, etc are ethical terms that are bandied about among journalists and media scholars if not upheld in the discharge of their duties could negatively affect our national security.
“The non -observance of the ethics of Journalism would impact negatively on national peace. Journalists are expected to be sensitive to them in the news gathering, processing and presentation improved national security,” she concluded.
In his lecture on Narrative and Messaging, Col. Aliyu Yusuff said it requires planning, evaluation and effective communication inorder to achieve success, adding, “building a positive reputation for your organisation as public relations officer requires a proper understanding of message formulation, target audit analysis and an effective understanding of the media environment.
“Narrative must correspond with the story you are writing. Good image and reputation management can only be attained with good balance reportage.”
Also, Mr Marcel Anyanwu in his lecture titled, “Preserving National Security and attraction of FDI through unbiased Reportage said Maritime Reporters through unbiased Reportage of the maritime sector can influence the preservation of the nation’s security and attract FDI into their training and skills .
Speaking also , Dr. Suraj Olunifesi, of the Department of Mass Communication in a lecture titled “Effective Use of the New Media for Responsive Maritime Reporting”, explained that the public perception of the media is changing, therefore media men should change as well.
He said Journalism is a call for a profession of national interest and called on government to invest more money on the media and Journalists, insisting that they(Govt) must route for their interest, organise training and retraining of members and that they should not to be seen as beggers.
Best practices in Maritime Reporting was another lecture handled by Mr Ray Echebiri, a Journalist.
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