Explain to Nigerians the truth about our reforms, Shettima charges PR experts

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged public relations practitioners in Nigeria to clearly explain government reforms and policies to citizens to build trust and confidence.

Speaking on Tuesday at the 3rd Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Week in Kaduna, Shettima said reforms introduced by the administration of President Bola Tinubu would only succeed when Nigerians understand their purpose and benefits.

“As a government, we regard public relations as a strategic function of governance. It is integral to building trust, managing uncertainty, and sustaining reform,” he said.

He added: “We must communicate not only what we are doing, but why we are doing it, how it serves the public good, and what place the citizen occupies in the success of that effort.”

The Vice President stressed that governance must remain close to the people, while policies should be easy to understand.

“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 stated.

Shettima noted that even the best reforms could fail if citizens are not properly informed.

“No matter how brilliant policies are in conception, they must be explained, trusted, and translated from technical language into human meaning,” he said.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plate, Shettima said communication experts have an important role in helping Nigerians understand government efforts to improve food supply.