At Dokpesi Lecture, Experts Link National Development to Control of Information Space
Experts and communication stakeholders have reaffirmed that Nigeria’s development cannot be achieved without reclaiming its information sovereignty and controlling its national narrative.
This position was made known at the “Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture”, held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Abuja, and jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and DAAR Communications Plc.
With the theme, “Communication and Development,” the lecture paid tribute to the late broadcasting pioneer Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, whose contributions to the media industry were described as foundational to Nigeria’s communication landscape.
President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, said Dokpesi’s legacy reflects the essence of communication as a tool for unity, trust, and transformation. “He understood that communication is about meaning—connecting people to truth, leaders to citizens, and nations to the world,” he said.
Dr. Neliaku also announced Nigeria’s forthcoming hosting of the “2026 World Public Relations Forum”, which will attract participants from over 126 countries. He described it as “a global recognition of Nigeria’s ethical and innovative leadership in communication.”
Chairman of DAAR Communications, Raymond Dokpesi Jr, emphasised that the greatest challenge confronting Nigeria’s information ecosystem today is credibility.
“The era when media competition was defined by print and broadcast is over. The decisive struggle today is for credibility itself. Nigeria’s licensed, law-bound media institutions remain the last sentinels of integrity,” he said.
He warned that locking free-to-air television channels behind paywalls would threaten the country’s information sovereignty and democratic participation.
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, in his lecture presentation, announced approval for the NIPR University, saying it was part of his administration’s effort to nurture visionary leadership and communication excellence in Nigeria.
According to him, “We are doing that because we believe that one of the problems of Africa, and indeed Nigeria, has been leadership. Once you have the right leadership, everything picks up.”