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By Chigozie Nwabunwanne
Manager Media and Publicity, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Dr Obinna Ezeobi, has shared insights into the role of strategic communication in driving the implementation of local content policy for national development.
Ezeobi was a guest lecturer at the 14th Jackson Annual Lecture organised by the Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka on Thursday, 20 February 2025, with the theme “Local Content, National Development and Strategic Communication Imperative.”
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSpeaking to audience that gathered at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium (PAA), in the Nsukka campus of the university, Ezeobi argued that local content policy and implementation connects to several disciplines and industries including law, engineering, economics, development studies, philosophy, education, etc.
He observed that the campaign for Nigeria’s independence by the foremost nationalists was a sort of local content advocacy as they sought for “enthronement of local governance, promotion of local personnel and local management of resources.”
While explaining the nexus between local content and national development, and the indispensable role of strategic communication in implementing it, Ezeobi highlighted several concepts relating to its application in the oil and gas industry.
He shared case studies on how the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) successfully deployed strategic communication initiatives over the past 14 years, to promote local content, making it a national agenda, winning prestigious awards as the best federal agency in the country consecutively, and attracting understudies across Africa.
He further highlighted some communication strategies that those saddled with the responsibility of designing national development plans can adopt, if they seek to propagate President Bola Tinubu’s national development plans effectively to achieve active citizen engagement and accomplish sustainable economic growth for the country.
Ezeobi also implored the department of Mass Communication, UNN to maintain her leading position in the communication sphere, being the first school journalism in West Africa.
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Ezeobi, who is an alumnus of the department, reminded the audience that the department has produced outstanding leaders, scholars and practitioners in the Nigerian communication industry.
“Considering this legacy, the department has a responsibility to maintain its leadership position. This one is important because of the monumental impact of technology on the communication sphere, competition from other schools, and learning apathy among students,” he said.
He further charged the staff and students to be active in the communication field and pay attention to government policies to help in research as it is the rudiments of journalism to research and gather information.
Dignitaries present at the event were acting Vice chancellor of the University, Prof. Oguejiofor Ujam, represented by Prof. Chinwe Okpoko, the associate Dean, Faculty of Arts; Chief Ugwuanyi Jacob, CEO\Chairman Donjay Pharmaceutical company, Kano; HRH Dr. Lazarus Ugwoke; and Prof. Michael Ukonu, Head of Department, Mass Communication, UNN among others.
