ABUJA,Feb.18 (AFP)-Nogerian President Olusegun Obasanjo's spokesman Doyin
Okupe left Nigeria Friday to go on a one-week intensive training course in
presidential policy presentation at the White House, officials said.
 Okupe, whose performance as Obasanjo's spokesman has come under criticism
in the media and in government, told reporters he hoped the course in the
United States, also to be attended by the spokesman for the vice-president,
would help him develop his skills in policy presentation.
"The course will help us know the areas in which we have not been doing
well," he said.
 Presidency officials told reporters last week that Obasanjo was also
unhappy with the presentation of government policy and was considering
sacking Okupe and Info
rmation Minister Dapo Sarumi, both of whom now appear
to have been spared the chop.
 Okupe, a medical doctor with no experience of the media before his
appointment, said Friday that among new ideas being considered is a monthly
forum to be broadcast on television and radio for the president to talk
directly to the public about government policies. END

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