Uche Cecil Izuora
Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and Kaduna State Governor Senator Uba Sani have jointly called for a fundamental shift in how government communicates, describing strategic Public Relations as the “missing link” between policy formulation and public acceptance.
Both personalities made the appeal during the opening of the third Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) in Kaduna on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, hosted under the theme *“Nigeria’s Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plates- The Imperatives of Public Relations.”* The event also coincided with the commissioning of the Brigadier General Abba Kyari Banquet Hall at the Kaduna State Government House.
Delivering his remarks, Vice President Shettima stressed that the success of the administration’s economic and social reforms depends as much on how they are explained as on how they are designed. “Governance cannot afford to be distant. Policy cannot afford to be opaque. Leadership cannot afford to speak a language the people no longer understand,” he said, urging communicators to translate complex policy initiatives into relatable, human‑centred messages that build trust and reduce resistance. He positioned public relations not as a mere promotional tool, but as a core governance function that manages uncertainty, coordinates narratives, and fosters national unity.
Governor Uba Sani, who was formally honoured as a Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), linked the week’s food security theme directly to Kaduna’s development agenda. He argued that turning policy commitments into tangible outcomes on citizens’ plates requires more than resources, it demands credibility, clarity, and deep community connection. “In Kaduna, we are repositioning agriculture from the margins to the centre of our development agenda to ensure food security is continuous, not seasonal,” the Governor stated, adding that Public Relations is a central pillar of governance that bridges government intentions and citizens’ lived realities.
The keynote speaker, Ambassador Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge, a pan‑African food security expert and CEO of Elpasso Farms, highlighted the gap between Nigeria’s vast agricultural potential and the actual delivery of food to the population, describing communication as a major barrier to effective implementation. She urged stakeholders to use strategic PR to demystify policies, correct misinformation, and drive behavioural change among farmers, traders, and consumers, noting that food security is a critical pillar of national stability.
Earlier, NIPR President Dr. Ike Neliaku framed the week as a strategic intervention to strengthen the role of communication in governance. He commended the “Kaduna Peace Model” and Governor Sani’s inclusive leadership style as a national example of effective community relations. Dr. Neliaku also announced that Nigeria will host the Global Summit on Public Relations in November 2026, with delegates expected from 160 countries, underscoring the growing recognition of the country’s public relations ecosystem and its potential to shape governance narratives across Africa and beyond.