By Victoria Onehi
The President and Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Dr Ike Neliaku, says the institute will be at the forefront of promoting the New Nigeria Narrative.
Neliaku stated this in his speech at the International Diamond Colloquium to mark the institute’s 60th anniversary which was held in Abuja on Thursday.
Neliaku disclosed that after the institute’s recent visit to some elder statesmen like General Ibrahim Babangida and General Yakubu Gowon and listening to them, it decided to come up with a new narrative for the country.
He said: “Arising from the above, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has risen to accept the challenge to design a new narrative for Nigeria.Time will not allow me to enumerate in detail the content of the new narrative, but permit me to highlight some of the core essentials of Nigeria’s new narrative: trust and truth – being honest with the citizens and earning their trust. Hope – Napoleon Bonaparte said that a ‘leader is a dealer in hope.’ Also, effective and responsible communication, enthronement of ‘non-violent communication and rebuilding relationships and restoring respect for one another.
“Others are, citizen reorientation and re-engagement, leadership accountability, deliberate promotion of made in Nigeria products, reputation building and perception management. Conscious management of Nigeria’s reputation.”
Speaking at the panel session,the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Muhammad Idris, corroborating what the NIPR President said, noted that the present administration is willing to restore hope back to the citizens.
“As a public communicator, when you are speaking, it should be that you are telling the people the truth. We had five pillars on our agenda and one was that trust must be restored to the heart of public relations because that is the only way that Nigerians and whoever you are communicating with will come to agree with you and respect you,” he said.
Similarly, the CEO of Air Peace Mr Allen Onyema said Nigeria and the continent was highly stigmatised and the only way to reset the country was by Nigerians and Africans and not anyone else.
In his goodwill message, President of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management Justin Green, said their global association is committed to building the PR profession in Nigeria with the support of NIPR.
“Continue blazing the trail, as the eyes of the world are on you,” Green said.
While giving his goodwill remark, President, African Public Relations Association, APRA, Mr. Arik Karani said: “Celebrating 60 years is a significant milestone for the NIPR, which other national PR bodies see as a role model. Several PR associations are striving to emulate NIPR, as an Institute of Excellence. They wish to know how NIPR has been growing remarkably, and leading the way in PR practice on the continent.”
Karani stressed the need for NIPR to empower other African PR groups that will, in a way, enable them to become flagship professional institutions.
“Continue to be the pioneer that you are, and raising the bar of excellence in Africa and across the world,” he said.
