By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The Convener of The Alternative Movement, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has called for greater investment in professional communication training for government spokespersons to prevent avoidable national embarrassment during international media engagements.
Showunmi made the call in reaction to the controversy trailing a recent live interview between presidential aide, Daniel Bwala, and international journalist Mehdi Hasan.
The interview, which has been widely circulated on social media, has sparked debates among political observers and communication experts over the standards expected of government representatives during high-profile global media appearances.
In a statement made available to journalists, Showunmi noted that the performance of government spokespersons in international interviews plays a critical role in shaping global perceptions about a country’s leadership and policies.
According to him, Nigeria would benefit significantly from strengthening the professional capacity of individuals tasked with speaking on behalf of public institutions.
“Nigeria, like many democracies, would benefit from deeper investment in professional communication training for those entrusted with representing public institutions. Doing so strengthens not only the credibility of individual leaders but also the country’s voice on the global stage,” he said.
The chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party explained that public communication at the highest levels of government is a demanding responsibility that requires preparation, experience and discipline.
He noted that government spokespersons occupy a sensitive position within the governance structure because they operate at the intersection of policy communication, public perception and national reputation.
According to Showunmi, every word, tone and response delivered during media interviews contributes to how governments are judged by both domestic and international audiences.
He added that appearances on global platforms hosted by experienced interviewers such as Hasan should not be treated as routine engagements, but rather as strategic opportunities to clearly communicate government policies and positions.
“Competence in this field is rarely a matter of instinct. It is the result of preparation, experience and respect for the demanding craft of strategic communication,” he stated.
Showunmi further observed that effective spokespersons often have years of experience in campaign messaging, media briefings, crisis communication and policy interpretation.
He also stressed the need for spokespersons to maintain composure and message discipline during difficult interviews, noting that seasoned communicators are trained to redirect hostile or loaded questions towards the core message of the government they represent.
According to him, many successful governments across the world invest significantly in communication training, simulation exercises and professional coaching to adequately prepare their spokespersons for high-pressure media engagements.
Showunmi warned that in an era where a single media appearance can go viral across the world within minutes, the performance of government representatives during live broadcasts has become a critical element of modern governance.
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