SHAPING PERCEPTION; IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE NARRATIVE
HOST: Rev. Fr. Theodore Martinos
There must be a new you everyday, because if you don’t recognize that new you, you will continue to live in the old version of yourself!
Someone must not say whom you are ‘from his/her own Lens.’
On This week’s episode of Youth cathecism, The host, Rev. Fr. Theodore Martinos guided us through another Video Clip of ‘THE PLATFORM’, a Nigerian Program headed by PST. Poju Oyemade, the most cutting edge platform that deals with dissecting Critical issues in a way that No-one ever has! Inviting Top ‘Unlikely Leaders’, Entrepreneurs and basically people making live easier with innovations and Ideas!.
Today’s Edition Featured Dr Victor Oladokun, Director of Communications for Africa Development Bank Group, who Dealt with a thought provoking Issue, our subject of discussion for today. Some Excepts from his speech are highlighted below:
1. “The goal of Creative media today is no different from that which the then Premiere of Western region, Obafemi Awolowo stated when Launching and Commissioning the first TV station in Africa, All Western Nigerian Television, Ibadan(WNTV). They’re To Teach, To Entertain and to Inspire.
2. “Life is tough enough especially here in Nigeria, I’ve not met a single person in my life who doesn’t want to be inspired”
3. “It’s a well Understood notion that if news doesn’t ‘Smell’ it doesn’t ‘Sell’. For the most part of news, editors and producers have been Conditioned to ensure that only the Sensational and the most Scandalous news make it to the headlines”
4. “The most devastating and disastrous an event is, the better it is for news ratings”
5. “Essentially we live in a 24-hour news circle, for which if you’re not careful, there’s seemingly no escape from the negative news that barrages our sensibilities each and everyday”
6. “These days on CNN- a global Cable TV news brand(Apologizes for name calling), Breaking News now means every bit of Trivia Coming out from the Whitehouse in Washington DC, which by the way is quite interesting in a world of 7.6Billion people. We are now fixated with what affects the white house in Washington DC, a city of 690,000 people!! “
7. “Am not Saying American News is not important, however I do wonder why news in other parts of the world are seemingly Less important!
It’s time to change the narrative❕
8. “The Second thing that struck me was the narrative about Africa in General, then and still today, the prism of perception about the Continent and indeed Nigeria, has for too long revolved around the 4Ds of –
-Disintegration
-Disorientation
-Destruction &
-Death.
9. “Your guaranteed 100% if a news item appears about Africa or about Nigeria makes it Unto the Global Headlines, more Likely than not, it will be a Negative report❕”
10. “We could blame the media but let’s not be quick to assume that when we talk about media, we talk about some organization in Lagos or Abuja.
Today in the digital space EVERYONE of us is a consumer, a content creator and a distributor of Media. So guess what, we are all complicit in the NEGATIVE NARRATIVE about our Nation and our Continent at large❕”
11. “Whether it’s on YouTube, Facebook, gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram Twitter, G+, Flicker or any Social Media. We are all Communicating something and Most times it’s all Negative! “
12. “The Third thing that struck me is how a particular group of People were always taking hold of opportunities in Africa. Instinctively, when I get unto any plane coming into Nigeria, after scanning All the occupants on the plane, I found out that most of them were either from Europe, North America or Asia and I began asking if Africa and indeed Nigeria is so messed up, why is it that they are beating down the door to want to be on every plane that lands in our Nation and on our Continent.
There’s obviously something that you’re not seeing which they are seeing in spite of the Negative Narrative about Nigeria and Africa as a Nation and Continent Respectively! “
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Dr Victor Oladokun’s Point highlighted in No (4) (9) & (10) cannot be far fetched as Could be seen in the recent Lagos building Collapse at Massey Street, Ita-Faji, Lagos Island featuring a foreign reporter perhaps from one of the British media houses came to cover live the scene which Left no fewer than 12persons Dead (May their souls Rest in Peace) and Several others injured! There we go again, Nigeria making the World headlines for the wrong reasons- Death for the umpteenth time!
And so Daily, the Drumbeat of Negativity doesn’t end. The Problem of Africa is not having resources but the Management of these resources which The “Whites” make A fortune out of❕
Stop Judging the present and the future from the Lens of the Past! Especially when there’s a lot of Negativity in the Past!
Write your own story yourself instead of Others writing it for you in a very Untrue Manner! As is the Case of Africa and Nigeria today!
Everyone will be Interested in your story when it makes an impact on People’s Life’s. Rewrite your story today, it will sell it self!
What story are you making❔
The Task of Changing this Negative Narrative of Nigeria and Africa at large begins with YOU!
SPECIAL GUEST OF THE DAY: DR VICTOR OLADOKUN
Dr. Victor Oladokun is a citizen of Great Britain. He is a highly accomplished communications and media practitioner with more than 25 years of demonstrated expertise in public relations, corporate branding, journalism, broadcasting, strategic communications consulting, leadership development, executive coaching, and as an adjunct professor. He has garnered rich experience with leading conglomerates and non-governmental organizations in the United States and Africa, as well as strong cross-cultural experiences having worked on several projects in almost 30 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
He’s Currently the Director for Communcations and external relations for Africa Development Bank Group.
The Youth Cathecism is an initiative of the Parish priest of SS Peter & Paul, Baruwa where Catholic and Non catholic youths are Gathered in the premises of SS peter and paul Catholic church Baruwa,Ipaja, Lagos. Every wednesday after the evening mass – andd three (3) Core arears that affects the Youths in Entrepreneurship, Emotional/Social and Spiritual Issues are Discussed!
Make it a date next week! Same Venue! Same host! Same Station!