This article appeared in The Scope Nov- 15- 21th, 2013 edition CONGRATULATING COMMUNICATION DIPLOMATS IN THE TIME OF EMERGENCY RULE By Adamu Muhammad Dodo, FIGCD, ANIPR Barely few days after the Senate assented to the request of Mr. President for the extension of emergency rule in the three states of the North-eastern part of the country- Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states- “supposedly” said to be affected by the endemic epidemic associated with insecurity, tagged; “the Boko Haram insurgency”, that which the people of Adamawa state, for the most part, were opposed to, with the feeling akin to it being politically motivated, the Institute of Global Communication and Diplomacy has held its maiden training and induction ceremony with the theme: “TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNICATION AND DIPLOMACY: A NECESSARY TOOL FOR CONTEMPORARY MANAGERS AND LEADERS,” held at Merit House Hall, Maitama, Abuja on November 9, 2013. Nine out of the fourteen of those who were conferred with the prestigious Fellowship award in addition to some full members inducted were from Adamawa State. Those who are being conferred with the fellowship award of the Institute include: Adamu Muhammad Dodo the Head of Information with FMC Yola, Umar Abdul Hafiz Belel of department of Information MAUTECH, DSP Usman Aminu Jauroyel of the Nigerian Police Force State Headquarters Yola, Suleiman Babale Jibril also of the Nigerian Police Force State Headquarters Yola, Bitrus Ahmed Festus Head of Mass Communication Department Federal Polytechnic Mubi and Adekoya David Adebola a lecturer of English and Communication skills Federal Polytechnic Mubi. Among the full members category inducted who were from Adamawa State include: Comrade Shehu Usman Aliyu Editor the Scope Newspaper, Ayuba Adamu Alhaji communication expert, Hajiya Binta Rajab Sanusi and Jamila Ahmad Mahmud all of Information Unit FMC Yola The training had X-rayed among contemporary issues bothering communication and diplomacy, the “Financial Information Reporting and Corporate Decision-making in Organisations”; means of “Enhancing the quality of Organisational Communication through Diplomacy”; and “Inter-Agency Diplomacy and Synergy: The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Experience Earlier in his welcome address, Mr. Sukuna Danjuma Tusha the Registrar of the Institute remarked that the occasion was first of its kind in the history of the Institute. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this very historic and joyous occasion of the pioneer induction/investiture ceremony of the Institute of Global Communication and Diplomacy.” He said that the occasion marked the beginning of the inductees’ inseparable relationship with the Institute and the highly coveted Communication and Diplomacy Profession in Nigeria. He reiterated that the ceremony was designed to give the inductees the opportunity to formally learn a few things about the Institute; the acceptable behaviour of diplomatic communicators and the rules of professional conduct that regulate the activities of members of the profession. “Let me note with pride that your admission today into this Institute marks the beginning of an honourable professional career path that offers you self-fulfilment and social respect. It is therefore, important for you to guard your achievement jealousy by displaying objective, sound communication and diplomatic knowledge and exemplary character in all your undertakings. As professional communicators and diplomats, you must strive to perform your duties in accordance with acceptable communication and diplomatic standards irrespective of the sector of the economy in which you are employed or engaged.” He said. He urged the members to effectively bring their communication and diplomatic skills to bear in forestalling the challenges of conflict and crisis in the workplace. He said that the members were expected to effectively utilise their skills in the areas of communication, problem solving, negotiation, critical thinking, conflict resolution, customer relations, customer/client retention, international relations and management to continuously add value to their employers’ legitimate activities and with profound ethical conduct. In his Keynote address Amb. (Dr.) Dickson A.O. Akoh, like other scholars, saw Communication and Diplomacy as a sine qua non for the achievement of organisational objectives. “Communication for example, has been widely accepted by scholars and academics as the lifeblood of an organisation, because communication is needed for exchanging information and opinions, making plans and proposals, reaching agreement, executing decisions, sending and fulfilling orders and conducting sales.” He further argued that organisation would cease to exist with the failure of communication. “Research spanning several decades has consistently ranked communication skills as crucial for managers... who would have to spend 75 to 80 percent of their time engaged in some form of written or oral communication. Although, often termed as “soft” skill, communication in business organisations provides the critical links between core functions.” He called on the Fellows and other members who were strategically positioned in the society to work hand-in-hand with the Governing Council, Board and Management of, to take the Institute to an enviable height particularly in the area of pursuing its chartered status for the benefit of all. In his vote of thanks Fellow Stephen A. Odukoya the Executive Director of the Institute heartily congratulated the inductees cut across the different membership categories. He wished them greater successes in the future endeavours with the hope that the skills they have acquired would be brought to bear on their daily interaction and professional engagements both in the public and private domain and that they would continue to keep the flag of the Institute flying. And to the distinguished Fellows, on the strength of their outstanding leadership qualities and remarkable career achievements, the Institute he said, had no doubt in their ability to propagate the noble ideals of the Institute, which he was also optimistic that they could act in an advisory capacity for the growth and advancement of the Institute’s vision and mission statements. He finally thanked Inspector General of Police and the National Commandant Peace Corps of Nigeria for nominating and sponsoring their personnel to attend the training programme. While I congratulate the first to be inducted members of the Institute of Global Communication and Diplomacy, I would however lament the absence of Malam Yunusa Abubakar a lecturer with the Federal Polytechnic Nassarawa at the membership induction ceremony. He was with his ailing mother- whom I would not wish to “bid a permanent goodbye knowing fully the motherly love and care she had rendered to us when were at the university in the middle to late 90s- on the day of the induction at Jos University Teaching Hospital on the day of induction ceremony. She finally bed us the eternal goodbye transiting to great beyond just a day after the induction. Innalillah wa Inna Ilaihirraji’un. May her soul rest in perfect peace in Jannatul Firdaus. May Allah (SWT) bless the family she had left behind. May the family have fortitude to bear the loss.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:19:59 +0000
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