Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on public relations practitioners in Nigeria to communicate government reforms and policies with greater clarity, saying public trust depends on how well citizens understand the purpose and benefits of such measures.
Shettima made the call on Tuesday in Kaduna at the 3rd Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Week, CROC City 2026, where he said reforms can only succeed when they are explained in ways that connect with the everyday realities of the people.
He said public relations remains a strategic part of governance and is essential for building trust, managing uncertainty and sustaining reform efforts. According to him, government must not only announce policies but also explain why they are necessary, how they serve the public good and what role citizens play in making them work.
The Vice President said poorly explained reforms often trigger distrust and resistance, even when the policies are well designed. He stressed that leadership must avoid speaking in language that distances the people from government action.
Speaking on the theme, Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plate, Shettima said communication professionals have a duty to translate policy into practical meaning for farmers, traders and households. He added that food security remains central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He outlined steps taken by the Federal Government to tackle food insecurity, including the declaration of a state of emergency on food insecurity, the deployment of 2,000 tractors, the establishment of a N100 billion agricultural fund, expanded dry-season farming, targeted input subsidies and stronger partnerships across the agricultural value chain.
Shettima said the success of those interventions would only be meaningful when farmers feel relief, markets reflect improved supply and households experience real change in food availability and affordability.
He urged the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to continue raising professional standards through ethics, professionalism and evidence-based practice, while assuring the body of the Federal Government’s readiness to work with it.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who hosted the event, described the Vice President as a loyal pillar of support for President Tinubu. He said Kaduna State would contribute to national food security efforts by increasing budgetary support for agriculture.
Also speaking, President of the African Public Relations Association, Arik Karani, urged Nigerians to tell their stories with confidence, saying the country had made progress in several sectors. He cited improvements in visa processing and airport procedures for foreign visitors.
The keynote speaker, Dr Brahim Chisunge of South Africa, said food security should be treated as both a national security and economic stability issue. He noted that while Nigeria has strong agricultural potential, gaps in policy implementation must be addressed to achieve lasting results.
In his welcome address, NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the institute introduced the NIPR Week as part of its contribution to good governance and national development. He also disclosed that Nigeria would host a global public relations summit later this year, bringing together representatives from 160 countries.
On the sidelines of the event, the Vice President commissioned the newly built Brigadier Abba Kyari Banquet Hall at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Government House, Kaduna. He described the facility as an enduring legacy that would strengthen the architecture of governance and help position Kaduna as a destination for regional, national and global engagement.
Shettima praised Governor Sani for matching words with action through sustained infrastructure development, while Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the project reflected Kaduna State’s commitment to strengthening institutions and improving public infrastructure.
Governor Sani said the banquet hall was conceived as a world-class facility for high-level diplomatic interactions that would project Kaduna State more strongly to the world.
