Nasarawa University Professor Warns: “Applause Lies” as Perception Overtakes Trust in Nigerian Governance
Keffi, Nasarawa State — A leading Nigerian communication scholar has declared that the greatest threat to governance in Nigeria is not silence but “manufactured applause” — the gap between what leaders say and what citizens actually experience.
Keffi, Nasarawa State — A leading Nigerian communication scholar has declared that the greatest threat to governance in Nigeria is not silence but “manufactured applause” — the gap between what leaders say and what citizens actually experience.
Delivering the 50th Inaugural Lecture at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, Professor Emmanuel S. Dandaura argued that Nigeria now operates a “dramaturgical state” where power is performed rather than delivered.
“Words arrive faster than results, announcements travel further than outcomes, and performance is measured not by what is done but by how well it is presented,” Prof. Dandaura said.
He introduced two new conceptual tools: the Dramaturgical Power-Communication Model and the Applause Index. The former depicts governance as theatre — with leaders as actors, spokespersons as scriptwriters, and media as stage managers — while the latter measures the widening credibility gap between public applause (perception) and actual trust (reputation).
The professor placed Nigeria firmly in the “performative governance” quadrant: high visibility and enthusiastic public applause, yet persistently low trust. He cited the 2023 presidential promise to fix the power crisis within four years as a classic case where initial applause has given way to widespread satire and scepticism.
Prof. Dandaura, who rose from theatre production to strategic communication and has served as Vice President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, traced the problem to a historical inversion: traditional African legitimacy was earned through consistent conduct; today it is declared through communication campaigns.
He called for a fundamental shift from perception management to reputation-building, urging leaders to prioritise performance, listening, and ethical communication over visibility.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, and Governor Abdullahi Sule were among dignitaries present at the lecture, which drew scholars, PR professionals, and policymakers.
Nassarawa State University is acting as the birthplace for the proposed University of Public Relations and Leadership. Construction of the main buildings has commenced.
NIPR president Dr Ike Neliaku led eminent practitioners to the event. NIPR mobilised the participation of approximately 500 guests in the hall.
