Godfrey Adejumoh, a public relations expert, has launched his new book on strategic communications.
The book, titled ‘Winning with Strategic Communications: Essential Strategies for the Next Generation of Leaders’, was launched at an event in Lagos and attended by industry professionals.
Speaking at the event, Adejumoh said communication professionals must position themselves at the centre of decision-making in organisations.
“The communication professional must be present in rooms where decisions are taken,” Adejumoh said.
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“We need to get to the point where when a company needs a new CEO, a communication professional is on top of the list.”
He said that corporate communications should go beyond visibility to focus on influence, transformation, and measurable business impact.
Adejumoh said his book draws on over 15 years of experience working with multinational organisations, including Diageo, Unilever, MTN, DHL, Accenture, and LG.
He called for a shift in the role of public relations practitioners from tactical support to leadership positions.
“The business of corporate communications is about turning things around for the good of the business. Our job is not to raise shoulders, it is to influence,” he added.
Also speaking during the launch, Israel Opayemi, managing director and chief strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, said the book comes at a critical time as the industry undergoes a generational shift.
Opayemi said the book encourages practitioners to document their experiences and contribute to the profession’s knowledge base.
“First and foremost, this book would not have come at a better time than now,” he said.
Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, chairman of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG) and former president of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), said communication professionals must assert their relevance across key business functions.
He also said his organisation plans to incorporate the book into its learning programmes.
“I bought about 10 copies. We’re going to have sessions on it. He’s going to come and teach us,” Badejo-Okusanya said.
Samuel Ayetutu, chairman of the Lagos chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), described the publication as a valuable addition to the profession’s body of knowledge.
Other speakers, including Soromidayo George of the Nigeria Bottling Company and Funmi Onajide of Brooks and Blake PR, commended the book’s relevance and the author’s contribution to the industry.
