The 2024 Annual General Meeting and Award ceremony of Anambra State
Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, will hold tomorrow, at Hilton Leisure Resort and Hotel, Awka, Anambra State.
According to a statement jointly signed by the Chapter chairperson, Professor
Angela Nwammuo and the chairman, event planning committee, Dr Ikenna
Umeanolue, Senator Osita Izunaso, the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial
District will be the guest speaker. He will present a paper with the theme,
“Akulueuno: Public Relations as a Strategic Driver of Economic and Social
Growth in South East Nigeria”.
The theme of this paper was drawn from the Think Home Philosophy of the people
of South East Nigeria presently championed by Anambra State Governor,
Professor Charles Soludo. NIPR believes that with the application of Public
Relations, in the Akuluouno philosophy, the dream of making Ndi Igbo resident in
different parts of the world to bring home part of their wealth will be achieved
easily.
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo who is the patron of the
state chapter of the Institute will be the special guest of honour while NIPR
President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku will be the Guest of Honour.
Reverend Father Professor Boniface Obiefuna will be the Chairman of the Occasion while His Royal Majesty, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha and
Chairman, Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers will be the Royal Father
of the Day. During the ceremony, some prominent Nigerians who had contributed to the growth of Public Relations as a profession and peaceful co-existence of individuals in the society will be honoured with an award of excellence. Among them are the Catholic Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, Peter Cardinal Okpalaeke, the
Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Charles Esimone and the Acting Vice Chancellor Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Professor . Kate Omenugha.
Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) will also receive a corporate award for media
excellence. NIPR is an umbrella body of PR professionals working in different fields of human endeavour. These professionals strive to maintain a good rapport between individuals, organizations, governments and their various publics.
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, as a professional association was
established in 1963 but was given legal backing by Decree 16 of 1990.
The Decree 16 among other provisions declares it illegal for anyone to practice
public relations without being a registered member of the Institute. The law also
provides a range of punishments for offenders.
The effect of the neglect of PR and the professionals still stare us at the face as
different organizations and government spend millions if not billions of naira in
crisis management and restoration of battered images; a situation that would have
been avoided if the service of PR professionals are recognized and square pegs put
in square holes.
In the days of the old, people say “Ahia Oman a-ere onwe ya.” That is no longer
realistic in this technological age of too much information most of which thrive on
falsehood. This is where PR comes in. It promotes the truth in the midst of
falsehood.
Today, Anambra State Chapter of NIPR is rated as having the largest number of
PR professionals in the entire country. The chapter also has its own dose of
Fellows of the Institute and has consistently maintained a seat in the Council; a
seat currently occupied by Professor Kate Omenugha. It is also worthy to note that
the current President of the Institute, Dr Ike Neliaku is from Anambra state.
As the State Chapter of the Institute marks another milestone in her existence, it
calls on organizations and government agencies that have relegated PR practice to
the background to drop the attitude and enjoy the benefit accruable to those that
engage PR professionals in their activities.
As our motto which is Professionalism for Excellence says, it is only through
adherence to professionalism that we can achieve excellence.
Written by PROF. VENATUS AGBANU
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