The evolution of strategic communication: practices and reflections in Nigeria

Strategic communication, an intentional and purpose-driven communication aimed at achieving specific goals, is gaining traction in Nigeria. This paper examines the growth and development of strategic communication in Nigeria across three historical epochs. While previous studies on communication management in the country have been limited to the colonial era, this study traces the origin of strategic communication in Nigeria from the precolonial era to the present day. Despite the Western-centric view of strategic communication, this study highlights the various communication strategies, such as rhetoric, symbolography, town-criers, Roko, Ewi, proverbs, idiophones, and music, that were utilized in precolonial times. The arrival of colonialists only modernized the process and introduced new mediums of communication. Modern factors such as WWII, nationalism, regional politics, civil war, Boko Haram Insurgency, and politics have also influenced the development of strategic communication. The paper recommends more research and courses on strategic communication in Nigeria to continue building a better understanding of its role in national security and conflict management. •There is evidence of the deployment of strategic communication in Nigeria even before the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates of the country.•The empires before colonialism had devised strategies to communicate amongst themselves and with other nations using traditional modes of communication such as town criers, drums, Akewi, Roko, and symbolography as well as Ajami writing as the case necessitated.•Although colonialism brought about the modernisation of communication media, the communication strategies remained largely the same.•The government's heavy deployment of strategic communication in the fight against insurgency in Nigeria was required. The Nigerian security apparatus invested heavily in non-kinetic approaches to win the war.•Digital communication and engagement, public information, psychological information warfare, the establishment of military radio stations, and indigenous communication are some of the communication strategies used by the security apparatus to combat the insurgency.