DR John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Media Group, has urged Nigerian leaders to embrace ethics, transparency, and empathy as the foundation of governance, warning that no nation can rebuild public trust without integrity.
Speaking at the 25th NECCI PR Roundtable in Lagos, Dr John Momoh described trust as the true currency of leadership and the essential bridge between governments and their citizens.
He praised the convener, Mrs Nkechi Ali-Balogun, for her consistency and commitment to professionalism over the past 25 years. “The theme today may sound academic, but it’s really about one thing — trust,” he said.
“Trust between leaders and citizens, government and the governed, Nigeria and Nigerians. When people no longer believe their leaders, no amount of publicity can repair that loss of faith.”
The veteran broadcaster emphasised that ethics in governance goes beyond words or image management. “Ethics means doing the right thing — not the convenient thing,” he noted. “It’s integrity, transparency, and accountability in action.”
Citing Nigeria’s successful Ebola response in 2014 and Lagos’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr John Momoh highlighted how ethical communication and open engagement built public confidence. Honesty builds credibility. When something goes wrong, admit it. That’s how you earn respect, not ridicule.
“People grumbled, but they followed — because they believed the messenger,” he remarked. He challenged public relations professionals to act as the conscience of governance rather than mere image managers.
“PR is not perfume for bad policy — it’s principle. Real PR is about listening before speaking, telling the truth even when it hurts, and admitting mistakes when they happen.”
Dr John Momoh called for leaders to show empathy, humility, and accountability, insisting that citizens are more forgiving of honest hardship than deceptive comfort.
“Honesty builds credibility. When something goes wrong, admit it. That’s how you earn respect, not ridicule,” he said. The Channels Media Group chairman also urged members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to remain fearless defenders of integrity.
“Let the NIPR be remembered as the body that told truth to power — respectfully, consistently, and fearlessly,” he declared. He concluded with a vision of a Nigeria built on truth and trust. “Imagine a country where government statements are believed because they’ve earned that belief.
“A Nigeria where transparency is the rule, not the exception, is possible if we make ethics our compass and empathy our language.”
Dr John Momoh’s passionate keynote drew sustained applause from communication professionals and public sector leaders, reaffirming his place as one of Nigeria’s most credible voices in media and governance ethics.