At the 25th NECCI PR Roundtable in Lagos, Momoh described trust as the true currency of leadership and the essential bridge between governments and their citizens.
At the event, a 400-level student of the Department of Mass Communication at University of Lagos, Daniel Nnamani was announced the winner of NECCI Public Relations essay competition, clinching a cash prize of N250,000.
In his keynote address, Momoh said: ‘The theme today may sound academic, but it’s really about one thing — trust, Trust between leaders and citizens, government and the governed, Nigeria and Nigerians.
‘When people no longer believe their leaders, no amount of publicity can repair that loss of faith’.
The seasoned broadcaster emphasised that ethics in governance goes beyond words or image management, explaining; ‘Ethics means doing the right thing — not the convenient thing.
‘It’s integrity, transparency, and accountability in action’.
Citing Nigeria’s successful Ebola response in 2014 and Lagos’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Momoh highlighted how ethical communication and open engagement built public confidence.
‘People grumbled, but they followed — because they believed the messenger’, he remarked.
He challenged public relations professionals to act as the conscience of governance rather than mere image managers.
‘PR is not perfume for bad policy — it’s principle. Real PR is about listening before speaking, telling the truth even when it hurts, and admitting mistakes when they happen’, he said.
Momoh called for leaders to show empathy, humility, and accountability, insisting that citizens are more forgiving of honest hardship than deceptive comfort.
‘Honesty builds credibility. When something goes wrong, admit it. That’s how you earn respect, not ridicule’, he said.
The Channels Media Group chairman also urged members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to remain fearless defenders of integrity.
‘Let the NIPR be remembered as the body that told truth to power — respectfully, consistently, and fearlessly’,” he charged.
With a vision of a Nigeria built on truth and trust, he said: ‘Imagine a country where government statements are believed because they’ve earned that belief.
‘A Nigeria where transparency is the rule, not the exception, is possible if we make ethics our compass and empathy our language’.
He praised the convener and founder of the NECCI PR Roundtable, Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun for her consistency and commitment to professionalism over the past 25 years.
Momoh’s passionate keynote drew sustained applause from communication professionals and public sector leaders, reaffirming his place as one of Nigeria’s most credible voices in media and governance ethics.
Nnam, the 2025 NECCI Public Relations essay competition winner, topped 24 other contestants from five tertiary institutions across the country to win the contest.
A student of Covenant University, Baba-Enoch Temitope came first runner-up and received N150,000, while Tomiwa Oyegunle of Olabisi Onabanjo University emerged second runner-up and was awarded the sum of N100,000.
The 2025 roundtable, with the theme, “The Ethics of Governance: Shaping Reputation through Public Relations”, brought together policymakers, thought leaders, and corporate executives to discuss the role of ethics in leadership and communication.
Mrs. Ali-Balogun said that the essay writing contest is an initiative to nurture emerging talent in the public relations industry.
‘With your support, we envision this prize evolving into a prestigious annual award that recognises and nurtures outstanding talent in public relations’, she said.
She stated that the roundtable continued to promote professional excellence through partnerships with institutions like the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and corporate organisations.
Ali-Balogun emphasised the need to continue to promote ethical communication and good governance in rebuilding public confidence.
The Group Executive Director of Rainoil Limited, Mr. Godfrey Ogbechie underscored the link between integrity and effective crisis management.
‘Integrity is the best crisis management tool. When you choose openness over silence and honesty over convenience, trust grows even in tough times’, he said.
“We are in difficult times globally. As professionals, we must be more than storytellers; we must be truth tellers. Let our messages align with our values.”
