Lagos -The General Manager, Public Affairs Division, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Capt. Iheanacho Ebubeogu, has advised public relations managers of the authority to add value to management’s major thrust on operational efficiency.
Ebubeogu gave the advice in Lagos at the opening of a three-day 2016 Public Affairs Division Retreat with the theme: “Embracing the new Vista’’.
According to him, management is desirous that public relations and media efforts should add value to the operational efficiency, staff welfare, improved revenue drive and block revenue leakages..
He also mentioned the need for public relations officers to focus on capacity building, succession plan and operation of a 25-year port master plan.
“When the current management mounted the saddle, it was not long before operational efficiency was unveiled as one of the major thrusts of management.
“We then have to embark on a search with a view to discovering the best tools in our efforts at ensuring that the NPA’s image appreciates in the best regards.
“ The new orders we need to deploy in the present circumstances in line with the major thrusts of the new management, all aimed at operational efficiency ,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Ebubeogu as saying.
He said that the new orders include: the Freedom of Information (FOI), the New Media in the scheme of public relations practice as well as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Public Relations (PR).
Ebubeogu said that the FOI would be looked at, adding that it (FOI)should reside in the public affairs division, to work closely with the Legal department.
The general manager urged public relations managers to tune up to extra challenges that had been brought about by the arrival of the new management.
“It is expectant of us as public relations practitioners to ensure that our national brand asset – the NPA is seated atop an environment that is most excellent in the perception of stakeholders and the public ’’ NAN quotes Ebubeogu as saying.
The general manager said that this would enable the management to achieve desired set goals and thrusts.
He said that the nation was going through an era of change mantra and noted that as people who managed the image of NPA, “I would urge you to go through the catalogue of change’’.
The general manager also said that the dropping oil prices, the dwindling purchasing power of the people were affecting the business of NPA.
He said that government had called for diversification of the economy and looking at new areas like agriculture and solid minerals.
Ebubeogu said that 60 years of NPA’s existence, it was discovered that from different managements’ era, the attention to Public Affairs Division had been dwindling.
The general manager said that the new management was looking at the possibility of reviewing all joint venture agreements and urged all Heads of Public Affairs Units to go to the port managers; get the agreement and go through them.
He also said that the Heads of Public Affairs units should get the Port Act, adding that they should have an all-round knowledge of every aspect of NPA’s functions.
“A public relations manager should know the length of the port channel; the length of the quay apron; the cargo throughput, the tidal range, the charted depth and the last time the port was dredged.
“At the end of this retreat, we should be able to say that we have a renewed professional life,’’ NAN quotes Ebubeogu as saying.
(NAN)
