NACETEM DG, Prof Ukwuoma Harps On Importance Of Strategic Communication In An Organization

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Engineer Professor Okechukwu Ukwuoma, said strategic and effective Communication is significant for managers in the organizations so as to perform the basic functions of management.

Prof Ukwuoma stated this in his welcome address at a three-day Training on Strategic Communication and Public Speaking for Personal And Organisational Productivity, organised for staff of National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), held in Akure, Ondo State capital.

According to the NACETEM Director General, Communication serves as a foundation for planning adding that all the essential information must be communicated to the managers who in-turn must communicate the plans so as to implement them.

He noted that Communication promotes motivation by informing and clarifying the employees about the task to be done, the manner they are performing the task, and how to improve their performance if it is not up to the mark.

He said: “It gives me a great pleasure to welcome the management and staff of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to this 3-day training on Strategic Communication and Public Speaking for Personal and Organisational Productivity designed primarily to demystify public speaking and unravel the fundamentals of strategic communication.

“This training shall simplify communication and teach participants how to effectively convey their ideas, ideals, messages, vision and goals to the audience with a view to achieving personal and organisational productivity.

“Let me begin by saying that, over the years, public speaking in communication has played a major role in education, government, leadership and business.
Words have the power to inform, persuade, educate, and even entertain.

“And the spoken word can be even more powerful than the written word in the hands of the right speaker. Whether you’re a small business owner, a public/civil servant, a teacher, a leader or even a student, the benefits of understanding public speaking skills cannot be overemphasised. In fact, communication breakdown has largely been responsible for lack of and/or low productivity at the workplace.

“The vision, mission, objectives and goals of an organisation need to be clearly communicated for every member of staff to operate on the same page with a view to realising the organisation’s collective aspirations.

“In view of the above, the National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), a knowledge support institution, has consciously thought on the need to put this training on strategic public speaking and communication together with a view to emphasising how significant communication is even in the era of digital technology.

“This training will therefore critically look into issues such as demystifying public speaking, effective communication for optimal results, strategic delivery in public speaking, innovation management and productivity, communication and digital technology in the present world, time management and productivity, among others.

In his opening remarks , the Executive Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Barr Ekpo Nta said Communication is a source of information to the organizational members for decision-making process as it helps identifying and assessing alternative course of actions.

He expressed delight partnered with NACETEM to organised a useful training for NSIWC staff.

“This is a continuation of the partnership that has been developed with NACETEM over the years.

“The Commission came back to NACETEM because the first few engagements we had has been very fruitful and this is the way it should be as regards to inter-relationship basis.

“Some will feel it is out of the public sector that we can get the best but with what NACETEM has done, we have received cutting edge facilities and training opportunities for our staff.

“The Choice of Akure is deliberate to have direct air-route. The Commission is very concerned with human capital development because no matter the infrastructure without human capital development, there won’t be significant progress.

“I enjoin staff to be well equipped both as persons and officers of the Commission to achieve greater heights in both personal and operational facility. Also, learn to how to access technology and make it work for you. I wish you the very best.”