Stakeholders Advocate for Proactive Communications, PR Strategies to Mitigate Impact of Climate Change
By Azeez Disu
Stakeholders have urged public relations professionals and others to be proactive in developing strategies and simplifying their communication to reach the target audience in a bid to reduce the impact of climate change on our environment.
They made the call at the 11th Lagos Public Relations Stakeholders’ Conference (LPRSC) held recently at the Muson Center in Onikan, Lagos themed “Climate Change and Environment: Communication and the Sustainability Agenda.”. The event brought together various stakeholders across different sectors which include government, corporate organisations, environmental experts, NGOs, and media professionals to explore the critical intersection of climate change, environmental sustainability, and communication.
The Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Comfort Obot Nwankwo in her welcome address emphasized the need for public relations professionals to collaborate to advance the sustainability agenda in Nigeria and beyond.
According to her, ”At a time when the world is grappling with the unprecedented challenges posed by climate change, the role of communication in driving the sustainability agenda cannot be overstated. As public relations professionals, we are at the forefront of shaping narratives, influencing perceptions, and mobilizing actions that can lead to a more sustainable future. “
Similarly, the Conference Coordinator and CEO, Addefort Limited, Olabamiji Adeleye said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that actions are taken urgently to save our world.
He explained that “In line with the United Nations Sustainable Department Goals, we are concerned about the need to protect the planet from degradation, stakeholders’ commitment to sustainable consumption and production, managing natural resources and taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and future generations.”
Representing the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwolu, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Philip Wahab, charged stakeholders present at the event to take personal responsibility for sustainability in their respective spaces, while also restating the government’s commitment to collaborating with necessary stakeholders in combating the effects of climate change within the state.
Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy added that the state government will continue to sensitize citizens on the impact of climate change and what action they should take while calling on NIPR to support the government’s effort.
Delivering his keynote address, Dr. Onoja Joseph, DG, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) urged PR professionals and the government to be proactive in addressing the challenges associated with climate change including leveraging effective communication strategies. He tasked PR professionals to break down the terminologies related to climate change; the environment and sustainability to enable citizens to understand the consequences of their actions to the environment.
He also called for storytelling, more sensitization initiatives, planting of trees, and collaboration to ensure that actions are taken and communities, where a sustainable project or trees are planted, see it as their own and protect it.
The experts who also spoke at the event during the panel session emphasized on the need to take action beyond talking. They also called for the domestication of solutions, reaching school children with the right messages, engaging traditional rulers, advocating that manufacturers develop sustainable products and packaging, and topics on climate change and the environment should be put in schools’ curricula.
The session was moderated by Mrs. Giniikanwa Frank-Durugbor, Head Corporate Communications, Lafarge Africa Plc. The panelists are M.. Segun Ajayi-Kadri, DG, Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) represented by Mr. Segun Alabi, Assistant Director, Corporate Affairs and Communications, MAN; Mrs. Chioma Afe, Director, External Affairs & Social Performance Seplat Enery Plc; Ms. Agharese Onaghise, Executive Director, Food & Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA); Mrs. Titi Oshodi, Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Climate Change & Circular Economy; Mr. Oluwatosin Amida, HSE Adviser – Environment & Compliance, First Exploration & Petroleum Development Company; Dr. Igazeuma Adikema Okoroba, Group Head, Sustainability, Dangote Cement Plc; and Engr. Lovelyn Okoye, Senior Sustainability Manager, Seven UP Bottling Company.
LPRSC is an annual event organized by Addefort in partnership with the Lagos Chapter of NIPR to bring stakeholders together to discuss issues affecting the nation.
CEO of Addefort revealed the annual conference tagged the ‘August Gathering of PR Solution Providers’, has in the past 10 years consistently enjoyed the support and collaboration of government, institutions, and major corporate organisations in the country. It has evolved over the years to become a major platform for stakeholders to interact, discuss, and proffer solutions to the social, political, and economic challenges plaguing our nation.