NECCI PR Roundtable charts Africa’s reputational roadmap 27th, 28th October

Some guests at past NECCI PR Roundtable

Africa is expected to be one of the world’s super powers; but due to a myriad of challenges that plague the continent, it is one of the poorest – and often regarded as the dark continent.

The narrative of the continent is that of war, poverty, terror, corruption, disease. And irrespective of the standards of education and achievements, it is looked down upon and ridiculed everywhere.

Former United States President, Donald Trump once referred to Africa, Haiti and El Salvador as “shithole” nations.

Arguably, Africa is a bright continent with adequate resources in terms of human capital, geographical landscape and minerals resources that make it a good and fertile ground for any economy to thrive.

Unfortunately, the continent is a victim of the “single story” syndrome. And until something drastic is done, the reputational crisis will continue.

According to the celebrated novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the power of the continent can only be exposed depending on “how they are told, who tells them, when they’re told, how many stories are told…”

To this end, the 2022 edition of NECCI Public Relations Roundtable would be interrogating and dissecting the power of balanced stories in changing the narrative of Africa.

According to its Founder/Convener, Mrs Nkechi Ali-Balogun, being conversant with Africa’s history and reputation, NECCI believes that “we can help find a more structured and definitive way to tell our stories, which could herald the emergence of a movement for change as well as a new narrative to overcome the negative voices that have overshadowed the continent for decades”.

With the theme, “The Danger of the Single Story: Communication and Reputational Crisis in Africa,” she said that: “We believe that Africa, as the next global frontier, needs to tell her stories and tell it well. We need to champion this new drive to reshape our continent and change that single story of Africa and Nigeria in particular as ‘a place of catastrophe'”.

Ali-Balogun added that NECCI PR Roundtable would gather globally exposed minds under the same roof to examine the concomitant issues and proffer workable solutions to the developmental conundrums.

The Keynote Speaker is the Chairperson of Access Bank Plc, Dere Awosika.

Other speakers include Mpumelelo Zondi from South Africa and Dr David Mrisho from Tanzania, and a host of expert panelists moderated by the Managing Director, Precise Platforms, Mr Bolaji Okusaga.

The venue is Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos and on Thursday 27th and Friday 28th October. Time: 10 am (West Africa time).

Over a decade, NECCI PR Roundtable has become Nigeria’s greatest Public Relations Conference and a representation of PR professionals and their contributions to diverse sectors.

More than a hundred partners have recognised this powerful channel to network, connect and engage communication experts across the country and globally.