By Chinedu Asadu
On Friday,
the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced Lanre Issa-Onilu as its new
national publicity secretary, taking over from Yekini Nabena who had been
in acting capacity since Bolaji Abdullahi left the party.
The new APC
image maker is a specialist in strategic public communications planning, with
years of experience in corporate and political communications as well as policy
analysis and development issues.
What else do
we know about the man that would handle the party’s image as it strategises for
the 2019 polls?
US-TRAINED SCHOLAR
Issa-Onilu
studied mass communication at the University of Lagos, after which he proceeded
to obtain an MS Certificate in integrated marketing communications from West
Virginia University in the US.
He also
studied at New York University where he took courses in advanced public
relations and media audience research.
He has also
attended several seminars and conferences in the US and UK, including at the
prestigious World Advertising Research Council (WARC) in London, UK.
PUBLIC RELATIONS EXPERT
The new APC
spokesman also has years of public relations practice to his name — surely
would come in handy while taking charge of communications at the ruling.
He is an
associate member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and member
of the Public Relations Society of New York.
He is also a
corporate member of the International Communications Conference (ICC) at the
Baruch College, State University of New York, and is also an associate member
of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).
SEASONED JOURNALIST
Issa-Onilu
has worked variously as a media relations executive and journalist for up to 15
years and, according to his professional bio data, he also has experience
spanning over 13 years working as a policy and development issues strategist,
public perception analyst and communication planner.
He joined
the Comet Newspapers in Lagos as a news editor and — just like the current
spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — worked at THISDAY newspapers,
as an assistant editor (Sunday) and later group politics editor.
He also
worked for the World Investment News (Winne), France, for the production of a
special report on Nigeria’s democratisation process, published in the June 1999
edition of Forbes International Business magazine.
PUBLIC LECTURER
Issa-Onilu
has written many papers and delivered lectures on public communication, crisis
communication and reputation management as well as integrated marketing
communications.
He also
delivered a paper on ‘How to prepare a marketing plan’ at similar workshop in
2008.
Outside the
shores of Nigeria, he has also spoken at various lectures and conferences
regarding communications and public relations, including at the Baruch College,
State University of New York, US, where he spoke on crisis communication and
reputation management, before an international audience.
ARSENAL FAN
The new APC
image maker is a supporter of Arsenal Football Club in the English Premier
League. He is also an amateur golfer. His hobbies include reading and
travelling.
Source: TheCable
