A leading communication scholar, Omoniyi Ibietan, has called on newly inducted public relations professionals to rethink the meaning of communication, stressing that it extends far beyond the simple exchange of information.
Ibietan made this known during a goodwill message at the first quarter 2026 induction ceremony of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), held at Bolingo Xperia Hotel.
Addressing the inductees shortly after an orientation lecture by Ini Ememobong, former Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom State, Ibietan congratulated the new members and challenged them to embrace a more dynamic understanding of their profession.
“As attention becomes a commodity, communication is no longer mere transfer of information,” he said, noting that older definitions of communication are now “not just insufficient but unimaginative.”
He explained that communication should instead be seen as the sharing of meaning built on “shared intentionality,” which includes mutual attention, joint intention, and common goals. According to him, this perspective makes communication inherently cooperative and essential to human interaction.
Citing the works of thinkers such as Martin Buber, Michael Tomasello, and Paul Watzlawick, Ibietan emphasized that both spoken and unspoken actions carry meaning.
“Silence is interpretable,” he said. “Being in a room without speaking does not mean non-messaging—every behaviour is communicative.”
He further advised the inductees to approach communication with empathy, urging them to treat every audience as they would their employers, noting that people generally desire to be “loved, respected, valued and confirmed.”
Ibietan concluded by highlighting the importance of collaborative communication, stating that it fosters trust, strengthens relationships, and promotes stability and progress.
“Humanity will continue to be in chaos until we reimagine communication in its inherently cooperative, humanising sense,” he said.