RMRDC trains staff, media practitioners on aid national development

In pursuit of its mandate to provide information that would enable for the formulation of appropriate policies for domestic raw materials exploitation, development, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) recently trained over 40 persons to promote development in the country, BINTA SHAMA reports.

Studies have revealed that, Corporate communication skills training is said to help improve capability and skill of staff at work places. From the management to the frontlines, there is need to enhance their connection and collaboration, improve their productivity and boost their results. How much more when the training has to do with the specialized field like sciences, where there is need to simplify in the layman’s language what the message sent out to the general public is meant for.

Changing narratives through innovation

While declaring the workshop open, Director General Raw Materials Research and Development Council Professor Hussain Doko Ibrahim said the outbreak of the pandemic has reshaped activities noting that only the use of innovative measures can change the narrative of finding solutions to the challenges at hand.

“I am delighted to declare open this all important training workshop on emerging trends In science, technology and Innovation (STI) Communication in corporate Organisation. Let me begin by welcoming participants to this special training organized for information managers of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and media Practitioners drawn from selected agencies and organisations.

“The timing and theme of this workshop could not have been more apt especially as the world and businesses around the world both government and private are recovering from the Impact of the Covid19 pandemic. The global pandemic has no doubt and in many ways reshaped how private and government businesses are carried out. This means that new challenges in the world will be tackled not with old ways but by Innovating new ways and adopting new strategies to provide practical solutions to these challenges.

“Emerging challenges the world over will require new ways of thinking and of course, new modus operandi in both governments and private organisations. You will agree with me that all over the world, Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) have been identified as indispensable vehicles for transforming a society from a state of backwardness to modernity, from being a non-industrialized nation to an industrialized nation, from a dependent economy to one that is self reliant, and from an import-oriented economy to an export-oriented one. Science, technology and Innovation form the cardinal bedrock for distinguishing a developed economy from developing and under-developed economies. No nation can boast of being industrialized without solid base for ST1.

“I am aware that the overall objective of this capacity building workshop Is to avail participants With the Skills in science, Technology and innovation reporting for national development and competitiveness. It is therefore in this light that I commend the Corporate Services Department (CSD) for the foresight in initiating and organizing this workshop to furtner expose participants to emerging trends in communicating in these modern times.

“It Is my hope and expectations that looking at the different topics to be covered by the resource persons, participants will become more abreast, enriched and equipped with the requisite and appropriate knowledge and skills needed in communicating Science, technology and innovation. I wish you all a most engaging and rewarding training session as I look forward to receiving useful recommendations from the workshop,” Professor Ibrahim stated.

Going the whole hog

Speaking, the Director RMRDC Corporate Services Department (CSD) Mr. Chucks Ngaha said, the initiative should be considered as taking an activity to a destination where it is designed to be through a medium called the entirety of journalism.

“The ability of any nation to utilize any medium is equals to the fourth industrial revolution today and we know that the advanced economies are harping on the industrial revolution that has to do with two types of things; the artificial intelligence, the robotics the 5G network, the space technology network amongst other high technology things. And now they’re cashing or smiling to the bank because now we have an influx of interests from other developing economies who are thirsty to acquire some of the knowledge. So because they have effectively been able to utilize the vehicle of communication. You hit the television, radio, they are way ahead of the rest of the economy that are at least more or less utilizing the gong method of communication.

The objective of today’s programme, the Director said, is to make little attempt of strengthening the capacity of the heroes of the Fourth State of the realm “i.e. the journalists. Those who have made dire sacrifices to ensure that the nugget, the raw materials for development which is information is passed through or unhindered to the up takers whom you are, Nigerians, policy makers, manufacturers, engineers etc. So, the effectiveness of this is key and that’s why today, we have assembled a set of persons (the media) to identify their challenges and solutions to make headway. The director-general has decided that we do the talk as well as trying to identify wholeheartedly with the media.

Emphasizing precision

While speaking on ‘Modern Trends in Science Technology and Innovation Reporting, Ms. Doris Dame said that all science reporters must understand that under science and technology, there has to be precision. “The information sent out has to be factual, information relayed has to be information that are dependable, reverification has to be done by these reporters. Most importantly, when you’re talking about science, you find a quite number of scientists having opposing views on their research findings. So it is imperative that the reporters ensure they do their facts findings correctly before to ensure that whatever content they’re putting out there is verified and to also ensure that they’re aware that their different environments or scenarios are carrying out different research. For instance, a research is to be done by a particular organisation but in different sectors, a lot of comparative analysis must be effected before the publication of this information.

“We want to ensure that a lot of our reporters are aware of this update and ensure they do the same. And then finally, we are in a technology age, where a lot of people think that science and technology is a very boring industry, where a lot of people that want to do science reporting, most journalists think that people may not have interests in the field. We want the reporters and media guys today know that it is their duty to make science reporting more interesting and to simplify whatever content they’re putting out there. A lot of people who aren’t scientists or in the non technological space, will be able to understand them in a most simplest way possible.”

Earlier, Mr. Isaac Onoja speaking on Emotional Intelligence, said an average person runs ahead with rational thinking due to lack of emotional management which may lead to disaster, mentally.

He urged participants that, as information officers, sanity of the mind should be the watch word because the general public depends greatly on them. “Self preservation is the number one thing for one to do in every negative situation. In the midst of challenges everyone has one FFF i.e. Fight, Flight or Freeze, to do,” he added.

Also speaking on ‘Maximizing Potentials of ICT in Medium Reporting’, Mr. Everest Amaefule said ICT is a medium where a reporter can duplicate stories in numerous ways to the advantage of one’s work. “ICT has democratized access to the media, where it gives your reader a media convergence.”