By Nnenna Okonkwo
As a follow up to the previous training held in 2023, the MacArthur Foundation organized a communications training for its grantees at the Ibeto Hotels Abuja, May 14, 2023. Titled ‘On Nigeria,’ the training was aimed at equipping and providing communication learning opportunities to the Foundation’sgrantee partners.
In his brief welcome address, the director of MacArthur foundation, Dr. Kole Shettima, highlighted some of the reasons it was important for the heads/directors of its grantee partners to be present in the event. He also assured that the MacArthur Foundation will work with its partners till the last day of the year while also stating that their goal is to leave all grantees better than when they started and will do their utmost best to achieve that.
Seasoned and award-winning broadcast journalist and ‘On Nigeria’ advisor, Eugenia Abu, in her keynote remarks, explained the importance of having communication skills as the head of an organization. She said that the CEO is and would always be the chief communications officer of the organization and having communication skills would make it easier in carrying his team members along and achieving the organisation’s set objectives.
“A leader is a role model that brings positive change and this is achieved through effective communication. As a CEO, you need members to aspirate the common goal of the organization and the only way to do that is to communicate effectively as the importance of communication cannot be overemphasized.” she said.
In her presentation on leadership in communication and stakeholder management, Tolulope Olorundero, founder of Mosron communication, explained the effective stakeholder management and internal communication for social impact in an organization. She explained that as communications personnel, one of the most important stakeholders is the CEO. She buttressed this by stating that one key responsibility of the comms person is providing advisory to the CEO.
Olorundero also gave a detailed breakdown of the internal and external stakeholders that are relevant to a communications specialist. In her closing remarks, she pointed out that communication is a co-dependent profession and its work can never be done in isolation.
On the issue of AI tools for inclusive communication, another representative from Mosron communications highlighted some of the roles of AI in communication and approaches to using AI tools.
Part of the roles of AI in communication according to him, is the breaking down of language barriers using tools like mobile AI translates, Samsung AI etc. He also stated that AI makes visual contents more visible.
Using reputable AI platforms, disclosure, are some of the approaches to using AI tools.
In his presentation on information security, Mr Nasiru, CEO of 3logy limited, pointed out that over 90% of people tend to be the weakest link to cybercrimes. He explained that in most cases, unsuspecting victims are usually trained by hackers on how to avoid getting hacked only to get hacked by those same trainers after getting their trust. He further advised participants to be careful at all times before clicking any link and be mindful of the kind of information they share on the internet.
Representatives from BBC and The Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation also gave a rundown of some of their achievements in the past year while a panel session was held on inclusive communication with persons with disabilities. The training also covered a breakout sessions where participants presented personal and organisational elevation pitches.
In attendance were different representatives from the MacArthur foundation grantees. AFRICMIL was represented by Dr. Chido Onumah, Cordinator of AFRICMIL, and Nnenna Okonkwo, communications officer.
