• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • PRNigeria Fellows and CEO IMPR Yushau A Shuaib

      PRNigeria Fellowship: A Model for NIPSS Kuru

      Africa’s Economic Ties Deepen as Nigeria, Benin Sign Joint Trade Plan

      Customs Partners US Mission to Prevent Expanded Visa Ban

      Nigeria Customs Partners China on Smarter Ports, Officer Training, Reforms

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Customs Moves Against 223 Importers in N379bn Permit Breach

  • National
    • Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun Honours ACP Aliyu Shaba and CSP Sentome Obi with Police Officers of the Year Award

      IGP Egbetokun Honours Police Officers of the Year, Holds Talks on…

      Pantami Urges Presidential Rewards for Nigerian Teen, Nafisa Aminu Who Topped…

      Customs Unveils Reputation Handbook to Guide Officers’ Conduct, Rebrand Agency

      CDCFIB

      Correctional Service Elevates 30 Officers to Assistant Controller General Rank

      Troops Intercept Illicit Logistics Bound for Cameroon, Uncovers, Destroys 14 IEDs…

    • Government
      • Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim presenting the report to Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf

        Kano Governor Receives Report on Commissioner’s Role in Bail Controversy

        Pantami Urges Presidential Rewards for Nigerian Teen, Nafisa Aminu Who Topped…

        Secretary State Government Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim receives report on Commissioner alleged role in drug baron bail

        Kano Govt Receives Report on Commissioner’s Alleged Role in Drug Baron’s…

        Group photograph of Staffs of VON and representatives from RATTAWU

        We are Here to Fix The Voice of Nigeria as A…

        The Executive Secretary of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Mr. Kamar Bakrin (L), receiving the President of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr Farouk Rabiu Mudi (R), who led a delegation to pay him a courtesy visit in his office.

        Why Investments in Local Sugar Production is Profitable Now – NSDC…

  • Security
    • Wasiu Akinwande AKA Olori Eso

      Police Arraign Notorious Lagos Assassin, Wasiu Akinwande on 11-Count Murder Charge

      Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun Honours ACP Aliyu Shaba and CSP Sentome Obi with Police Officers of the Year Award

      IGP Egbetokun Honours Police Officers of the Year, Holds Talks on…

      Nigerian Army Launches New Welfare Initiatives for Retiring Soldiers

      CDCFIB

      Correctional Service Elevates 30 Officers to Assistant Controller General Rank

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      After 21 Years, Gen. TY Danjuma Relaunches Union Dicon Salt to…

  • Features
    • Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi

      Atiku, Obi and the ‘Confused Marriage’ Called ADC

      Kwankwaso, Northern Nigeria and the Politics of Marginalisation

      Kemi Badenoch

      Kemi Oomoale Badenough: A Liar By no Other Name by Chief…

      DSS, NNPCL and EFCC

      NNPCL Controversy: Arewa Economic Forum Raises Alarm as EFCC, DSS Refute…

      Tinubu’s Greek gift by Festus Adedayo

  • State
    • Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim presenting the report to Kano State Governor Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf

      Kano Governor Receives Report on Commissioner’s Role in Bail Controversy

      Wasiu Akinwande AKA Olori Eso

      Police Arraign Notorious Lagos Assassin, Wasiu Akinwande on 11-Count Murder Charge

      Secretary State Government Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim receives report on Commissioner alleged role in drug baron bail

      Kano Govt Receives Report on Commissioner’s Alleged Role in Drug Baron’s…

      Rivers Police Arrest Suspects in Lawyer’s Murder, Recover Weapons

      Police Officer

      Police Eliminate 8 Terrorists in Zamfara as Bandits Abduct 5 Residents,…

  • Event
    • Pantami Urges Presidential Rewards for Nigerian Teen, Nafisa Aminu Who Topped…

      NIPR President Ike Neliaku and Customs Boss Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      NIPR Lauds Customs’ Reputation Reforms, Announces Annual PR Officer Award

      Prof Pate donates laptops to UNIMAID

      Prof Pate donates 20 Laptop Computers to UNIMAID

      D'Tigress Basketball team

      Will Presidential Gifts Follow as Nigerian Female Basketballers D’Tigress Reach 5th…

      The Paramount Ruler of Oka-Akoko, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, OON, the Olubaka of Oka

      Olubaka of Oka Praises Foundation for “Best Oka Day” Festival

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features My voyage on the (River) Niger
  • Features

My voyage on the (River) Niger

By
Jibrin Baba Ndace
-
July 20, 2019

My voyage on the (River) Niger
By Jibrin Baba Ndace

‘Everyone needs a strategy…’ – Lawrence Freedman

Three years ago, precisely in November 2015, I was entrusted with the responsibility of being the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the dynamic and amiable Governor of Niger State, Alhaji (Dr.) Abubakar Sani-Bello.

Three years down the road, I can look back with utmost satisfaction and deep sense of fulfilment that I executed my mandate diligently, ethically and professionally in line with global best practices.

All these years, I approached each task as every arrowhead should: with passion, dedication, courage, loyalty and an unquenchable desire to make a difference. I took on my assignment with Aristotle’s concept of work in mind: “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work”. I also imbibed Muhammad Ali’s dictum: “Don’t count the days; make the days count.” I aligned with Maya Angelou on creativity: “You can’t use up creativity; the more you use, the more you have.”

For me, like a professional photographer, every moment counts! Above all, I was never afraid of making mistakes. As a military brat, I was very mindful of the advice given to newly promoted military officers that: “It is not what you do to get to a rank that matters, but what you do on the rank.”

In my years as a journalist and public relations practitioner, I have learnt the art of sacrifice, hard work and commitment as my guiding principles. It is with this mindset and temperament that I handled the onerous task of managing the reputation of my former principal.

In executing my mandate, I stood firm on my principles of doing my job professionally and ethically in line with global best practices in reputation and brand management for the governor and for the good of Nigerlites.

I set out with a vision to consistently and strategically deploy PR and media expertise in the reputation management of my principal in line with the cardinal priority of the administration.

To achieve the set goal, I galvanized the human and material resources available to me nationally and globally. Fully aware of the challenges of being a reputation manager in the age of social media, I deployed appropriate PR strategies in closing the inherited lacuna through creation of subtle, truthful, believable, and timely narratives acceptable to various publics on traditional and online platforms.

In line with the corporate values of professionalism, teamwork, creativity, dynamism, integrity, commitment and innovation, I rebranded the department from ‘Press Crew’ to NIGGOVMEDIATEAM (an acronym for Niger Governor Media Team).

In the last three years, with the robust collaboration of my staff and the support of other professional colleagues, we conceived creative and dynamic ideas as well as laudable initiatives to support the agenda of the Governor, such as the establishment of the FOSCIN (Forum of Spokespersons of Critical Institutions in Niger State), which we established to engender synergy and coordination in managing security information in the state; and the introduction of a special magazine (POWER STATE) which profiled the work and administration of Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello. We also introduced a media monitoring project to ensure adequate feedback to assist the people-related policies of His Excellency. In all instances, we employed the best tactics in media engagement and conduct.

Read Also:

  • Kano Governor Receives Report on Commissioner’s Role in Bail Controversy
  • Police Arraign Notorious Lagos Assassin, Wasiu Akinwande on 11-Count Murder Charge
  • IGP Egbetokun Honours Police Officers of the Year, Holds Talks on Improved Retirement Benefits

Small wonder, our efforts were commended by national and international organisations. In recognition of our creative and innovative disposition, I won the Outstanding Chief Press Secretary Award by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), FCT Chapter for my extraordinary role in promoting ideals of public relations in Nigeria, as well as the African Public Relations Certificate of Excellence Award for my outstanding accomplishments in managing security information in Niger state through the formation and activities of FOSCIN.

This period which I considered as a ‘Command Appointment’ is one of the defining moments in my career as a journalist and PR practitioner – very exciting, momentous and eventful. It offered me first-hand opportunity to know more about democracy and democrats, politics and politicians, traditional institution and traditional rulers, journalists and journalism, traditional media and new media/social media insurgents, information and disinformation, sabotage and saboteurs, bootlicking and bootlickers, public relations and Public Relations Practitioners, public servants and public service, eye servants and eye service, election and electorate, government and governance, leadership and followership, power and power play, power and corridor of power, detraction and detractors, political appointees and political service, loyalty and loyalists, lobbying and lobbyists, youth and politics, women and politics, activists and activism, unionists and unionism, fake news and fake folks, … must I go on?

I served, bearing in mind that like all those who served before me, there would be different verdicts of my stewardship, fully aware that as Albert Einstein famously noted: “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything”. I also realised that as the first African-American 4-Star General, Collin Powel, said, “Command is Lonely ….” I, therefore, take responsibility for all decisions I took as the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello from November 2015 to May 2019.

As I reflect on my momentous years as the CPS to a man I call the master of Blusukan, I give thanks to Almighty Allah in whose hands my destiny lies.

I thank Governor Sani-Bello most profoundly for giving me the opportunity to serve the state at this critical time. My work was made easier due to his exceptional personality and disposition as he never stopped believing in my judgment, counsel and professionalism.

As I return to base, I reflect on the preface of one of my publications thus: “The joy of leaving and the pain of having to leave”; the joy of leaving those who wanted me to leave and the pain of leaving genuine friends and colleagues.

As I bow out as the 14th Chief Press Secretary to the 14th and 5th elected governor of Niger state, I reflect on General Stanley McChrsytal’s thought on Leaders in his memoirs, ‘My Share of the Task’: “Leaders are not necessarily popular, because the choice between popularity and effectiveness is ultimately no choice at all; leaders walk a fine line between self-confidence & humility. All leaders are human. They carry the same range of emotions and frailties common to mankind.”

I remain committed to the service of the people as my zeal to serve is resolute.

I leave with firm conviction that as Lawrence Freedman posited: ‘Everyone needs a strategy…”

I thank all those who were part of my voyage on the (River) Niger. Mungo Park must be acknowledging me in his grave: his was a voyage of discovery; mine was a voyage of service!

Jibrin Baba Ndace,
Former Chief Press Secretary to the Niger State Governor.

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • My voyage on the (River) Niger
Previous articleBill Gates Speak to Ganduje on Healthcare in Kano
Next articleAfrica’s Spymasters Declare Social Media a Security Threat, Exploited by Subversive Elements
Jibrin Baba Ndace
Jibrin Baba Ndace
http://www.PRNigeria.com

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Tinubu, Atiku and Peter Obi

Atiku, Obi and the ‘Confused Marriage’ Called ADC

Kwankwaso, Northern Nigeria and the Politics of Marginalisation

Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Oomoale Badenough: A Liar By no Other Name by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode

DSS, NNPCL and EFCC

NNPCL Controversy: Arewa Economic Forum Raises Alarm as EFCC, DSS Refute Claims

Tinubu’s Greek gift by Festus Adedayo

CG Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

Customs Just Wrote Nigeria’s Energy Rulebook

Okello Oculi

Okello Oculi: A Pan-Africanist Asteroid Burns out Forever By Is’haq Modibbo Kawu

Leon Usigbe

Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the Machiavellian Strategist By Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice

Ozumi and a recipient of a wheelchair

Wheels of Hope: How a Simple Gift is Reshaping Lives at Sa’adatu Rimi University By Ozumi Abdul

Late Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and Mansur Liman

“Buhari: A Blunt, Honest Leader Who Laughed at His Own Predicament”

Intelligence Synergy: Reshaping Nigeria’s Security Architecture, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply

Log in to leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • Kano Governor Receives Report on Commissioner’s Role in Bail Controversy
  • Police Arraign Notorious Lagos Assassin, Wasiu Akinwande on 11-Count Murder Charge
  • IGP Egbetokun Honours Police Officers of the Year, Holds Talks on Improved Retirement Benefits
  • Pantami Urges Presidential Rewards for Nigerian Teen, Nafisa Aminu Who Topped Global English Competition
  • NIPR Lauds Customs’ Reputation Reforms, Announces Annual PR Officer Award
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Kano Governor Receives Report on Commissioner’s Role in Bail ControversyPolice Arraign Notorious Lagos Assassin, Wasiu Akinwande on 11-Count Murder ChargeIGP Egbetokun Honours Police Officers of the Year, Holds Talks on Improved Retirement BenefitsPantami Urges Presidential Rewards for Nigerian Teen, Nafisa Aminu Who Topped Global English CompetitionNIPR Lauds Customs’ Reputation Reforms, Announces Annual PR Officer AwardCustoms Unveils Reputation Handbook to Guide Officers’ Conduct, Rebrand AgencyAtiku, Obi and the ‘Confused Marriage’ Called ADCNigerian Army Launches New Welfare Initiatives for Retiring SoldiersCorrectional Service Elevates 30 Officers to Assistant Controller General RankAfter 21 Years, Gen. TY Danjuma Relaunches Union Dicon Salt to Revive Local IndustryKano Govt Receives Report on Commissioner's Alleged Role in Drug Baron's BailRivers Police Arrest Suspects in Lawyer's Murder, Recover WeaponsPolice Eliminate 8 Terrorists in Zamfara as Bandits Abduct 5 Residents, Rustle CattleTroops Intercept Illicit Logistics Bound for Cameroon, Uncovers, Destroys 14 IEDs in BornoWe are Here to Fix The Voice of Nigeria as A True Instrument of National Power – DG VON
X whatsapp