The Public Relations Officer, Dr. Walter Duru has called on public institutions across Africa to transform gossip management systems as part of their communication strategy.
Duru, assistant professor of Communications and Media Development, made the call while contributing to a media briefing and discussion with residents during the recently concluded ID4Africa Summit in Marrakech, Morocco.
Describing rumors management as an important public relations function, the communications expert argued that rumors could undermine public trust, frustrate investment and adversely affect project implementation, if not managed properly.
He described as dangerous the failure of some government institutions in Africa to incorporate and manage rumors as part of the development of their communication strategies.
“Rumor management is an important social function that all organizations should take seriously. Rumors can create trust issues in programs / projects with public and private organizations. Rumors lead to a breakdown in trust and morals. They increase anxiety and create major disruptions to organizations. Outside of the workplace, rumors can make project implementation difficult and spread very quickly. The modern practice of public relations considers the management of rumors to be the most important thing. Failure to have a rumor control strategy can lead to the failure of a project or policy, no matter how important. Every communication strategy should have a function and a deliberate plan to manage the rumors. ”
On the importance of citizen identification, Duru described it as a right of all, calling on all Africans to participate in the campaign for the legal recognition of all.
“The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.9 expects that by 2030, everyone in the world should have a valid identity document. The goal is to get 100% Legal Identity by 2030. Identity is a human right. If you do not have the kind of identity, you cannot be defeated. Proper identification will enable the government to plan effectively, to bring about good governance. Regardless of who you are, you will have difficulty checking government resources. ”
“In Nigeria, the National Identity Management Commission - NIMC issues National Identity Numbers (NIN). Citizens are strongly advised to check the nearest registration centers so that they are not left out. Ignore any inaccuracies that you may have and go and register, at your discretion. ”
“Today, the Nigeria Digital Identification for Development (Nigeria ID4D) project is here to support NIMC and other civil society organizations in Nigeria to achieve their mission. It is co-sponsored by the World Bank, the European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency. Efforts are also being made to ensure that the legal framework for data protection in Nigeria is strengthened. Nigerians should get their NIN now, as it is a win for all citizens. ”
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