- * Offers Membership Registration Subsidy To Interested Journalists
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
The leadership of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR) led by it's President, Dr Ike Neliaku, on Monday, paid a corporate strategic partnership visits to the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Guild of Corporate Online Publisher's (GOCOP) in their various Secretariat's in Abuja.
The visit by Dr Neliaku and his Council delegation to the NUJ and GOCOP is one the several whistle-stop courtesy visits by the NIPR President (Dr Ike Neliaku) who is gradually emerging, in so short a time after his election in August 2023, as the most popular and result-oriented President of the NIPR since history of the Institute.
The NIPR said the purpose of the visits to the two foremost media bodies was to foster a strong bond of partnership in its quest to remodel the image of Nigeria which is widely believed to have been badly stained at both local and international levels.
According to Dr Neliaku, the NIPR believes that the responsibility for seeking an improved image for the country could be best achieved if the media through it's key allied bodies like the NUJ and GOCOP collaborates with the Institute.
The NIPR boss also disclosed that the Institute in its quest for professionalism and qualified membership drive, has resolved to discount the membership registration fees for practicing journalists, editors and other communication professionals seeking to become new members of the NIPR.
Neliaku said the decision for this special membership was taken at the recent NIPR Council meeting as a way to further deepenibg relationships and promoting professionalism among the stakeholders in the communication sector in Nigeria. He pointed out that the law establishing NIPR makes it a criminal offence for anybody to practise public relations by whatever name without certification or licensed by NIPR.
Neliaku observed that some journalists and Editors have crossed over to Publc Relations practice as Spokespersons and therefore need the professional certification of the Institute to avoid violating the Nigerian law.
While emphasising the importance and relevance of the Public Relations profession, Neliaku told his hosts that NIPR is among the few professional organisations in Nigeria established and affirmed by both military decree and Act of Democratic parliament.
Neliaku also used the opportunity to invite the leadership two professional bodies to participate in the forthcoming programmes of NIPR which include National Spokespersons Summits and Awards, PRWeek, Rebirth Nigeria project among others.
He said:the NIPR leadership under his watch has found out that several spokespersons actually need re-training and re-orientation to enable them perform their job tasks the right and professionally acceptable way. He said some spokespersons are driven by projecting only their principals in positive light, while others are held in the negative.
“That is why we want to hold a national spokespersons summit and awards. This is because we have to recognise those who have done well and use them as icons or templates to promote the image of Nigeria.
“We are hosting this event from the 26th to 28th of this month in Abuja. We are hoping that at the end of the summit, those who are already spokespersons and their successors will have a good reference material to guide them in their work.
“We are also set to hold the PR Week in Abeokuta next month to boost genuine investments in the country, using public relations to reinvent the economy of our country. We believe that the NIPR is in a position to drive the economic recovery of this country, through reputation management and by partnering with other related bodies in the communication industry
“Next is Rebirth Nigeria project which seeks to reinvent the value Orientation of Nigeria, comprising of value reorientation, operation excellence in service delivery, citizenship and patronage of made in Nigeria. We shall also host our Diamond Anniversary Cerebration. After clocking 60 years, we want to dedicate the entire month of June to do this programme.
“We also plan to host Nigeria Reputation Fair. We are having this programme in collaboration with the Kwara State government. To boost professionalism in public relations, the NIPR plans to set up a finishing school so that graduates in mass communication, advertising, communication arts, etc, can come and specialise in Public Relations, and this institution will eventually grow to become Public Relations Univeristy”.
Responding, the National President of the NUJ, Dr. Chris Isiguzo, noted that the visit has further showcased the cordial relationship between the two esteemed organisations, stressing that they both showcase national ideals based on understanding and collaboration through the dissemination of accurate communication and effective reportage, respectively.
He expressed confidence that the meeting will serve as catalyst for both organisations to advance the cause of press freedom, promote ethical journalism and advance the practice of both professions.
Also in her response, the President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, commended the NIPR leadership for strenghtening the relationship between the PR body and the Network of online publishers.
Represented by the Deputy President of GOCOP, Mallam Danlami Nmodu mni, she expressed supports for the upcoming programmes of the NIPR, promising that they would remain partners in progress for a better Nigeria.
Mallam Nmodu whose presentation on behalf of the GOCOP President drew a general applause, however explained to the NIPR visitors the objectives of GOCOP and the efforts of the media body to sanitize online journalism and discourage the activities of quacks and purveyors of fake news which negates the objectives of GOCOP.
The GOCOP's deputy leader stated that though the group is making very strong progress in this regard, it has continued to emphasize to it's members who are the elite corp of the media industry from the print and broadcast media in Nigeria the need to uphold acceptable and legal standards of journalism practice so as to make the online media a respected voice in the.media sector.
Nmodu who is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newsdiary Online conveyed the warm greetings of the GOCOP President and it's rank and file members, and expressed the readiness GOCOP members to collaborate with the NIPR in ways that would ensure the growth and development of Nigeria.
Other members of GOCOP who were present during the courtesy visit include: Mr Tom Chiahamen, Deputy President of GOCOP (Northern Region) and Publisher of National Accord Online; Mr Max Amuchie, Publisher/CEO of Sundiata Post Online; Mr Tajudeen Abdulkareem, Publisher of Credible News Online and Mr Celestine Okafor, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian NewsLeader Online.
Others are Mr Clement Nwoji, Publisher of Optimum Times Online ; Mr Sufyan Ojeifo, Publisher of The Conclave News Online; Ms Kemi Yesufu, Publisher/CEO of Frontline News Online and Mr Olumide Bajulaiye, Publisher of Daily Despatch Online.(additional reports from PRNigeria). NNL.
