Peter Obi Appoints World Class Professor Of Strategic Communication As Spokesman

By Frank Oshanugor

As the various registered political parties in Nigeria warm up to commence campaign for the 2023 elections, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi has appointed a strategic communicator; Professor Charles Okigbo as his campaign spokesman.

In a statement on Friday, Okigbo will be in charge of Obi’s communications related issues during the campaign period which is expected to begin in September.

Okigbo is a professor emeritus of strategic communications at North Dakota State University, United States of America where he conducts research on media coverage of elections, strategic fundraising in higher education and the processes for leadership development and social change.

He had served at various times as Registrar of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Vice President of ORBICOM,

the UNESCO Think Tank at the University of Quebec, Montreal Canada and the Executive Coordinator of the African Council for Communication Education (ACCE)

at the University of Nigeria, University of Lagos, Daystar University, Nairobi and the University of Nairobi. He has been a consultant and temporary adviser to UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNESCO, WHO, Ford Foundation and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.

The Professor is said to be passionate about providing Executive Education opportunities in advertisement and strategic communication in Africa, the United States and other parts of the world. He has published seven books on advertising and public relations, development communication, public affairs reporting and marketing.

Okigbo is passionate about teaching strategic communication, advertising, public relations and mixed methods social research to undergraduate and graduate students as well as professionals in communication, education, non-profit organisations and government service.