A professor of Development Communication at Nasarawa State University, Emmanuel Dandaura, has said that while communication has become more widespread and sophisticated in Nigeria, public trust has significantly declined.
Dandaura made this known during his inaugural lecture held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, where he examined the evolving relationship between communication practices and public confidence in governance.
According to him, Nigeria is currently experiencing “more communication but less trust,” attributing the trend to a growing emphasis on perception rather than proven performance.
He said, “We now have an environment where perception—driven by visibility, manufactured applause and narrative control—often overshadows reputation, which ought to be built on consistency, accountability and real results.”
The don argued that governance in the country has increasingly shifted from substance to spectacle, with leaders prioritising image management over tangible outcomes.
Providing what he described as a three-fold framework, Dandaura identified an “abundance of communication” as the prevailing reality, while noting that public confidence in such communication remains low.
He added, “The gap between what is communicated and what is experienced by the people has widened, leading to credibility challenges.”
As a way forward, the professor called for a shift from perception management to reputation management, stressing that sustainable trust can only be achieved through demonstrable performance and transparency.
“Reputation must be earned through consistent delivery and accountability. Without this, no amount of communication can restore public trust,” he said.
He urged stakeholders in governance and the communication sector to adopt more responsible and ethical practices capable of rebuilding confidence among citizens.
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