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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Communication driver of governance — Lai Mohammed

From The Punch · (3h ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Former Information Minister Lai Mohammed stated that communication is a central driver of modern governance, influencing how governments are perceived, challenged, and trusted.
  • He argued that the digital era necessitates governments to be more transparent and responsive, as citizens actively interrogate and shape narratives in real-time.
  • Mohammed cited examples from his book, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the P&ID case, to illustrate the critical role of communication in crisis management and defending national interests.

In a world increasingly shaped by information flow, the role of communication in governance has never been more critical. Former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, articulated this perspective during a session at Cambridge University, emphasizing that communication is not merely a supporting function but the very core of how governments operate and are perceived.

Communication is not a supporting function of governance; it is central to it

— Lai MohammedFormer Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, explaining the central role of communication in modern governance.

Mohammed's insights, drawn from his extensive experience and his new book, 'Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration,' highlight a fundamental shift. The digital age has democratized information, transforming the relationship between the state and the citizenry. Governments can no longer rely on top-down messaging; they must engage in real-time conversations, responding to and shaping narratives in a dynamic public space.

We have moved from top-down messaging to real-time public conversation. Citizens today do not just receive information, they interrogate it, challenge it and actively shape the narrative

— Lai MohammedFormer Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, describing the shift in communication dynamics in the digital era.

This perspective is particularly relevant in Nigeria, where social media plays a significant role in public discourse. The former minister's emphasis on transparency and responsiveness is a call to action for Nigerian policymakers to adapt their strategies. The challenges of misinformation, as seen during events like the EndSARS protests, underscore the need for robust and effective communication frameworks.

At a time when there was no cure and no vaccine, communication was our strongest weapon

— Lai MohammedFormer Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the importance of communication.

From a Nigerian viewpoint, understanding how communication shapes governance is key to navigating the complexities of public opinion and policy implementation. Mohammed's argument that communication was a vital tool during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and the P&ID arbitration case demonstrates its strategic importance beyond mere public relations. It is about managing perceptions, defending national interests, and ultimately, maintaining public trust in a rapidly evolving information environment.

We understood that we were not only fighting in the courtroom, but also in the court of public opinion

— Lai MohammedFormer Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, discussing the role of communication in the P&ID arbitration case.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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