BY MONDAY UWAGWU
LONG, long time ago, it was held that effective communication remains the most potent tool for promoting understanding and maintaining relationships. This is true at the individual level as it is at the corporate tier of communication.
And it is for this reason of its strategic importance that, even at the family and community levels, not everyone is allowed to speak for others: those chosen for this purpose are those who have something to say, not just those who want to, or, can, say anything.
Realizing the importance of effective communication, formal organisations, including tertiary schools, take great pain to train – formally and informally – those who are to speak for others. In formal settings at the tertiary school level, such training usually begins with introductory notes in Mass Communication. In many instances, this formal training is augmented with industry-sector experience to further hone the skills of those who speak for others.
As in other spheres of life or human endeavour, this training ensures that, as much as possible, those so chosen speak not only when it is absolutely necessary, but equally importantly, that only the appropriate words to convey the exact meaning of intention, are deployed. This is the reason that the select few are knowledgeable, articulate, fluently expressive, confident, proactive and restrained in language use (diplomacy). A spokesman can also communicate by silence, where necessary, body language.
Given the stiff requirements for efficiency on the job, governments, just as corporate organisations/ groups, painstakingly scout for those who should speak for them.
For Delta state Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, he has most probably found such qualities in 52-year old veteran of the mass media practice, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, who, as everyone can readily recall, was the penultimate past Commissioner for Information and spokesman of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
This may be the reason why he put him in the stead of the Ministry of Information, following the surprising weekend deployment of Dr. Ifeanyi Osuoza, away from that ministry to the portfolio of Commissioner for Special Duties.
By the development, Ehiedu simultaneously remains the Commissioner for Works in charge of Rural Roads, pending further actions by the governor.
Born on September 7, 1972 in Akumazi-Umuocha in Ika Nort East local government area of Delta state, Aniagwu, by his experience, skill and devotion, is a ready-made product for core official assignments at the highest level of corporate communication. He is a product of multiple tertiary schools: Auchi Polytechnic (ND in Mass Communication): Ogun State Polytechnic (HND Mass Communication); University of Calabar (PGD in Public Administration) and Enugu State University of Technology (M.Sc in Human Resource Management- 2023). He had earlier attended Ndemili Grammar School, Ndemili, where he earned the school certificate.
As with theoretical engagement in schools, so with practical experience in industry; Aniagwu has had vast relevant experience as a practicing journalist, media consultant and spokesman for sundry interests/groups.
After, his NYSC programme (where he was Information Officer in the Yobe State Ministry of Information); he became Politics Correspondent (DBN TV); National Assembly Correspondent for DAAR Communication Plc 2005 – 2015; co-producer/presenter, Political Forum for Raypower FM (2006 – 2015); Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa (2015 – 2019); member, publicity sub-committee on the 2018 Flood Management (2018); member, Delta State Governorship Inauguration Committee, Delta State, 2019); Chairman, Publicity Committee, 2020 Flood Disaster Management Committee (2020 – 2022); Commissioner for Information, Delta State (2019 – 2023) and spokesperson, Atiku/ Okowa Presidential Campaign (2022 – 2023). With more than 20 years of practical experience on the job, he is an acknowledged expert in perception management.
Experts hold that the philosophy underpinning communication is to create understanding, build trust (confidence) and, arising therefrom, to build goodwill. Aniagwu, by both the written/ spoken words and body language, is a master communicator whose on-the-job efficiency made the Atiku/Okowa ticket a prime buyer’s choice in the lead up processes to the presidential election of 2023. His thorough analysis of issues and sharp, credible deductions therefrom, laced with an enchanting candour and an enthralling language power stood him out and gave a significant edge to the PDP’s Atiku/Okowa ticket. He replicated same with amazing accuracy and proficiency at the state level, when, as Commissioner for Information, and (before then) Chief Press Secretary to Governor Okowa, he had to speak for the government and the governor.
But Aniagwu’s efficiency is not only at communication, undoubtedly good though he is at it: he has an alluring personality that disarms even the most cynical and an infectious level of confidence and capacity that earns him conviction and cooperation on issues involving him and others. With a deep wealth of experience and a welter of relevant facts to readily draw from, Aniagwu speaks with effortless ease, the ease that flows from a focused mind and an adroit, liberal heart.
On the job, too, the master communicator has delivered. While it is said that the tempo and quality of development in any sector of the economy of the state is largely dependent on the disposition of the principal (State Governor), it also goes to credible effect to hold the disposition of the principal is largely influenced by his main lieutenant commissioner in the affected sector. And the on-the-job efficiency of Mr. Aniagwu, both as Chief Press Secretary and Commissioner, bear eloquent testimony to this fact. Quite unlike the era before his term of office as civil commissioner, Aniagwu ensured that the state media outfits – The Pointer, DBS Asaba, and DRTV, Warri, were in a far better operational and aesthetic state than they had ever been, while the wellbeing and work environment of the media workers were equally enhanced.
Infact, an attestation to the stellar performance of Aniagwu as Commissioner and a liberal humanist found profuse public admission at the sendforth held in his honour by the State Ministry of Information. At that event, virtually everyone attested to the professional proficiency of Aniagwu as much as his large heartedness.
As he returns to the familiar terrain of the Ministry of Information as Commissioner, ( no matter for how long or short as the governor may decide), there is little doubt that the young man I first met as an intern at Government House, Benin (while I was The Observer correspondent on that beat, then) and has now become an expert communicator, is set to further market the state and its people, using the vehicle of the Oborevwori administration as the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV).
Yes, there were issues regarding how the interest of the media men in the state was handled in the swan days of the Okowa administration, which, quite understandably, made a section of the practitioners unhappy.
However, there is hardly anything beyond effective resolution via honest dialogue among affected parties; I expect same regarding the liaison between the Commissioner and his professional colleagues, so that , going forward, the brotherhood that once bound them can be re- oiled and the young marketer can resume his sweet, in fact, enthralling, songs in the media.
Once on the stead, my expectation is not only for a deserved significant hedge up in the tempo and quality of the media visibility of the state, the government and the people at the local and national levels, but a prompt revisit of the circumstances of the state media houses. The media houses deserve a significant enhancement of their operational environment to be more efficient in telling the story of the government and people of Delta, Nigeria’ s champion state.
It does the state no good that the media organs, in spite of the strenuous efforts of the past and presence administrations, in this age and generation, are still not in their optimal operational circumstances, as typified by the fact of their lack of core needs as circulation vehicles, a deserved operationalized permanent site, outside broadcast vans, and official vehicles for current and even retired personnel, many of whom, by the terms of their appointments and their nature and status, rightly deserve them.
That is my prayer, and the hope, indeed, the expectation, of the public.
I have no doubt that our expectations in this regard will not be cut short.
After all, can any bird beat the wood pecker to carving?
Welcome home, my dear little brother and professional colleague, to this demanding stead,and may God and Mother Nature continue to enable you for efficient service to our people.
