By Celestine Okafor, Anipr (Editor-in-chief)
The Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) have agreed to further enhance the existing cordial and bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the US for the benefit of both countries and their citizens.
This mutual pledge was made in Abuja recently when the new President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, received the US Press Attache to Nigeria, Mr Robert Gabor, during his courtesy visit to the institute’s headquarters at Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja.
An elated Neliaku who was recently elected as President of the NIPR, expressed his deep appreciation and on behalf of the Institute to his visitor who was also present at the just-concluded 2023 Edition of the NIPR Biennial Annual Conference held in Abuja where he was elected. He reminded the American diplomat of the crucial role of public relations practice in fostering diplomatic ties between countries, stakeholders’ engagement, image building and event management.
The NIPR boss also used the opportunity of the visit to explain the focal agenda of his administration of the affairs of the Institute which includes stopping the unprofessional reign of "quacks" in the PR industry and also ensuring that public and private concerns and institutions do not employ them as PR handlers.
Dr Neliaku stated that, “As a professional body entrusted with the responsibility of managing reputation, relationships and regulating the practice of public relations in Nigeria, we are poised to lend our professional expertise towards sanitizing the business of image management.
“We are calling on organisations to respect and comply with the law that established the NIPR by engaging registered and licensed professionals to handle their image, reputation and manage crises.
Neliaku also threw more light on how he intends to successfully run the affairs of the Institute during his tenure of office.
Responding to the explanations by his host, the US Embassy Attachee, Mr Gabon, praised Dr Neliaku for what he described as his laudable visionary ideas towards repositioning the NIPR for greater heights. He also commended him on his election as President of the institute.
Gabon said as a Press Attache, he had attended several activities organized by NIPR, expressing his elation with the institute. He assured the NIPR President of sustained partnership and cooperation with the institute towards enhancing the mutual ties between Nigeria and his country, the USA in all respect.
Gabon further stated that the US Embassy has a diplomatic culture of deploying various channels to explain American diplomacy to the Nigerian civil society organizations and the people.
“The diplomacy we do in government to government is done behind closed-doors, while we also issue press releases and host press conferences for better understanding of our work here, especially on the US-Nigeria relationship.
“We hope that a relationship with NIPR as a professional body will further enhance better understanding of the existing healthy relations between our countries. I appreciate what you do as professionals and appreciate your organisation as a partner to us. I am here to deepen the partnership,” Gabon assured. NNL.