Winifred Bosa.

Continuing in its efforts to bridge technology divide and drive digital inclusion of our world in the social media space , the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) recently organised a two day summit .

The summit held at the Nigerian Institute of Management, Lagos has Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria ( BJAN) , Generation X and Millennial communicators, marketers and social media professionals from agencies, B2B, B2C, non-profit, small businesses, students and government organisations as its audience.

The event themed : Building and Managing Relationships with New Media   , focused on achieving  intelligence to equip and capacitate participants with high-level digital media strategies, tactics and how-to’s so they can do their jobs better, train their teammates, and lift their campaign results on social media.

The digital summit included a variety of briefing  , lectures, discussions, simulation exercises and case studies to educate those in attendance.

Also , Simulcasting, Podcasting and Live Streaming strategies , social Listening and Influencer Identification Strategies ,  Best use of Social Media in a crisis , strategies for Measuring and Evaluating Digital Media campaigns , developing Social Media Policy Governing Employee Use of Networking sites , strategies for Online Branding and Reputation Management , Tech-fueled PR Trends Transforming Stakeholders and more , are issues that dominated the digital summit.

After a brief welcome address by the chairman of NIPR Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Olusegun McMedal ,  the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Rotimi Oladele; Director General/CEO, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Dr.  Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami ,and the Managing Director/CEO, The Quadrant Company, Bolaji Okusaga, delivered the keynote lectures.

Speaking , the Quadrant Company boss explained that social media has revolutionized corporate communications observing that  Social media marketing now allows  companies to communicate directly and instantly with their stakeholders thereby marking a shift from the traditional one-way output of corporate communications, to an expanded dialogue between company and consumer.

Pointing out that Nigeria already has the highest number of internet users in Africa , Okusaga advised companies to leversge on that since digital marketing offers incredible business building opportunities .

Other distinguished members of faculty include the Group Managing Director, Prima Garnet Africa, Lolu Akinwunmi; Vice President, Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Emeka Oparah; General Manager, Marketing and Corporate Communications, First Bank PLC, Folake Ani-Mumuney; Co-founder/Managing Partner, RED Media Africa/The Future Project, Debola Williams; and Chief Innovation Officer, BusinessPlus Services, Ekundayo Ayeni. Others include Manager, Communication & Public Affairs, Chevron Nigeria, Sola Adebawo; Presenter, Tech Trends, Channels TV and Founder, CFA Start-ups Hangout, Chukwuemeka Francis CFA; and Lead Consultant/CEO, P+ Measurement Services, Phillip Odiakose.

To drive his points home on how important cyber security is for communication effectiveness , CFA boss , Mr Chukwuemeka , reiterated that everyone should be concerned about security of the internet by putting in place , right security measures.

Last year, the Lagos State Chapter; the flagship branch of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); the umbrella body of professional Public Relations practitioners chartered to regulate as well as direct its development and the practice, convened the inaugural Lagos Digital PR Summit to sharpen the skill-set and build capacity of specialize group of communicators to explore the burgeoning new media space to build and maintain relationships.