Simans Strategic Communications Ltd

26/09/2023

In projects, communication is not merely an enabler but also a key contributor to the outcomes and results. You can have every element available in a project but the absence of communication can cause the dismal performance and even failure of such project. That is why it is necessary for a communication expert to be involved in the conception, design and implementation of policies, programmes and projects of organizations.

21/09/2023

The success recorded by any organization is usually in direct proportion to the attention given to strategic communication, effectively mainstreamed in its policies, programmes and projects.

21/09/2023

The success you record in any development policy, programme and project is proportionally dependent on the attention given to strategic communication effectively mainstreamed therein.

10/10/2022

Politics is about who gets what, when, and how (Lasswell 1936) while Economics deals with the production, consumption and allocation of goods and services. (Corduneanu-Huci, Hamilton, and Masses Ferrer 2013). At this time of Nigeria's developmental challenges, what should be the focus of Political parties for the 2023 Elections? Share your Take-Away-Message as a Nigerian.
POLITICS
OR
ECONOMY?

01/10/2022

In Strategic Communications, Words are Good, Attitudes are Better while Actions are the Best for Achieving Results.

02/09/2020

ENSURING PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES

Sometimes government seems to revel in controversies rather than facing the challe ges of development through consensus building, multi-stakeholder consultations and engagements. Studies on project communications shows that 90 % of the function of managers is communication while 10 % is the technical inputs. Same thing with policy and programme formulations.

The process of building a bridge is as important as having the bridge which is the end result. In most cases, government policies, programmes and projects are rejected not necessarily because they are bad but because of the lack of embedding the culture lack of stakeholder engagements for concensus building, acceptance and support by beneficiaries. Most projects shot down by public oppositions are usually due to the formulation and design of such policies by stealth.

The question why such secrecy stealthy moves moves? Two cases come to mind: The Bill and the 2020.

The controversies, criticisms or even demonstrations trailing these issues could have been averted by openness and transparency through multi-stakeholder consultations and engagements.

Meanwhile, has described the water bill as "ambushing of Nigerians" while CAMA 2020 is being seen as a "secret agenda" by a section of the populace. Application of public communication would solve these adaptive challenges to government enactments and policies.

The Ministry of Information and Communications should address these development related issues by creating a department on Development and Strategic Communications to focus on such specialised areas to ensure public acceptance and subsequently the success of governement policies, programmes and projects.

Obadiah Tohomdet
CEO, Simans Strategic Communications LTD

ENSURING PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES: Two cases come to mind: The Water Bill and the CAMA 2020.

01/07/2020

COVID-19: FOR THE CAMPAIGNS TO ACHIEVE EXPECTED RESULTS

Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, an extremely adept message-crafter and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 recently expressed frustration about Nigerians disobeying the protocols laid down to curb the coronvirus pandemic in the country.

He blamed this on skepticism and ignorance of the populace about the COVID-19. It is no doubt an issue for concern, particularly that we are now witnessing community transmission where villagers hold the beliefs that coronvirus is a "disease of big people" and town dwellers.

The truth is that, despite the fact that about 99% of the Nigerian populace say they are aware of the Coronavirus pandemic (NOIPOLLS SURVEY Report April 2020), more people need to be educated about the disease and the downstream aspects of the protocols.

Note that awareness is not equal to knowledge and that knowledge about something does not necessarily lead to change of behaviour on that issue. Many people don't even know how to wear the mask talkless of the reasons for wearing the masks.

In behavior change communication, cynicism, trust and reputation play key roles in the effectiveness and success of the messages. Of course, cynicism, disillusionment, poverty and apathy could also be a great barrier to the effectiveness of any message.

A recent voxpop on a Nigerian a Television Sation showed that many Nigerians still doubt that there is anything like Coronavirus. They feel that government is mere hiking the figures to attract and siphon money.

Remember that two states still doubt that there is such a virus though one of them has become a manufacturer of face masks.

Suggestion: In view of the fact that government has applied some strategies in the campaign with insignificant success, I suggest that a comprehensive rapid perception survey be commissioned by the PTF to ascertain and address the issues around cynicism and skepticism.

There are some key behaviour change strategies that could be employed in the campaign, in the interim, while this survey is being awaited:
Force and law (some call it "carrot and stick") could be applied but the success of this approach is usually not sustainable.

The campaign on seat belts in cars and wearing of helmets by motorcyclists in Nigeria is a typical example of a long term campaign which calls for the grace of long suffering.

The next is the use of facts by experts and probably taking some doubting Thomases to COVID-19 Isolation centres...as to them "seeing is believing."

I hope they will agree to go. Those who have experienced the virus could also serve as advocates. At this point, government should criminalise stigmatization to enable survivors to voluntarily serve as advocates.

The other important strategy is Facilitation. That is making the services delivery on COVID-19 readily available and nearer to people.

When people suffer to get the services, they would not be encouraged to respond to the campaigns.

Testing services should therefore be massively decentralised to communities, streets and road sides to encourage Nigerians to willingly go out to test. Mobile testing vans should be deployed to markets, parks, Churches, mosques, streets etc to make the services readily available.

Health workers should not only respond to people promptly but also treat them with high sense of decorum and respect.

These, and some other strategies, can help improve the success of the COVID-19 campaigns.

Obadiah Tohomdet
CEO Simans Strategic Communications and former World Bank Senior Communications Specialist.

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COVID-19: FOR THE CAMPAIGNS TO ACHIEVE EXPECTED RESULTS. Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, an extremely adept message-crafter

30/06/2020

A former World Bank official and strategic communications expert Mr. Obadiah Tohomdet has given epic recommendations on how the fight against Covid-19 in Nigeria would be a win-win one. In an opini…

11/05/2020

Now that COVID-19 has moved from index to Community to Community transmission, the best way to tackle the pandemic would be through Comunity Based Communication(CBC) strategy.

This means that communication activities should henceforth be handled by the various communities in the country using community based stakeholders, channels and messaging to enhance behavioural changes.

The reason is that our communities are more conversant with the underlying communal beliefs and the most effective ways to communicate among themselves.

Even the distribution of palliatives could be more successful by engaging community based structures and stakeholders, of course, with built-in accountability mechanisms.

Obadiah Tohomdet
CEO, SIMANS STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

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