By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Managing Director of MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL), Dr. Ernest Mupwaya, has said that communication must be a strategic and delibrate tool and not an afterthought.

Mupwaya made this remark at the weekend at the monthly meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Enugu State Chapter, hosted by MEDL at its corporate headquarters in Enugu.

He said, "Strategic communication is no longer optional in the electricity sector. It is a critical instrument for governance, reform, and national development.

“There is an urgent need for transparent, consistent, and proactive communication to rebuild public trust amid multiple sectoral and national crises.

“In an era marked by pressures, tensions, security challenges, and widespread misinformation, communication must not be an afterthought. It is a strategic instrument of governance, corporate leadership, and state and national building.”

He observed that public confidence in the electricity sector had declined due to lack of transparency, inconsistent policy communication, and limited stakeholder engagement, creating fertile ground for rumours and misinformation.

He noted that the Electricity Act 2023 represents one of the most transformational reforms since privatization, decentralizing regulatory power and empowering states to develop their own electricity markets and authorities.

“The stakes are high. Strategic communication and public trust are essential pillars for both state and national development.

“As professionals, I urge you to reflect on the role of communication in driving these reforms,” Mupwaya added.

In a lecture delivered at the meeting by Prof. Silba Uzochukwu, he reinforced that effective public relations is reciprocal, evidence-based, and rooted in accountability.

He warned that reputational crises often arise from internal weaknesses such as poor leadership, inconsistent service delivery, and weak organisational communication culture.

“Organisations must ensure that their vision, mission, and core values are not only articulated but actively lived and verifiable,” he said.

Uzochukwu called for structured crisis communication plans, trained spokespersons, and collaboration between government, industry, and PR professionals to safeguard institutional credibility.

The Chairman of NIPR Enugu State Chapter, Dr. Faustinus Ilo, situated the deliberations at the meeting within Nigeria’s broader reputational landscape.

Ilo said that recurring economic, security, and political challenges, combined with misinformation, had undermined institutional credibility nationwide.

He reiterated NIPR’s call for government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure that only certified public relations professionals manage public communication functions to eliminate quackery and safeguard public trust.

“Reputation management is not just a corporate function; it is a national responsibility,” Ilo said.

In his contribution, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industries, Trade, and Investment in Enugu State, Mr Ifeanyi Onah, tasked the Institute with ensuring full implementation of the cadre-ization framework to standardize membership levels and deepen professionalism.