By Ita Williams, Calabar
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR has inducted a total of 142 new members into its Chartered Membership ranks across the country.
Among the 142 inducted members, 12 were inducted under the Cross River State Chapter of NIPR.
The induction ceremony was led by the President and Chairman of Governing Council of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, assisted by the Registrar and Secretary of the Governing Council of NIPR, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue.
The event was held both physically and virtually as the physical ceremony was held at the Sandralia Hotel, Solomon Lar Way, Abuja while the virtual part of the event was conducted simultaneously across some states in the federation including Cross River.
According to the Cross River State Chapter Chairman of NIPR, who doubles as a renown Fellow of the institute, Mr. Benedict Onah Okache, spoke with some journalists at the Chamber of the State Ministry of Information, Calabar, shortly after the event at weekend, took time to explain the critical role of the NIPR in shaping and maintaining a positive public image for various entities, including individuals, organizations, and governments.
Detailing the institute’s responsibility in regulating the practice of public relations in Nigeria by admitting members and granting them professional certification.
Okache also stated that the NIPR operates through chapters across the country, encompassing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In his words, “after the mandatory training, the new members were formerly inducted into the Institute in line with cap 114 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This also coincided with the 2nd Diamond anniversary of the institute held in Abuja”, maintaining that, “NIPR was established in 1963, the body attended the status of Chartered Institute in June 1990, Decree No. 16, ( now an act of the National Assembly) from which it derives it’s powers.
To combat quackery in public relations, Okache stressed the need for professional training through regular mandatory continuing development programmes, asserting that, “what we have done is to ensure that everybody that is doing public relations is professionally trained.”
One of the Cross River State inductees, Dr. Kingsley Ita Ikpeme, former Cross River State Representatives in the Nigerian Youth Parliament, a former Director of the Greater Calabar Development Authority, and the current Vice Chairman of the Saint Patrick’s College Alumni Association.
Dr. Ikpeme, expressed his expectations as a newly-inducted member of the NIPR. He said, “My expectation is to add value to the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and ensure that it becomes a frontline institute in Nigeria.” Ikpeme also identify the value of professional training and urged others to seek professional certification in order to positively impact society.
An inductee from the state, Engr. Emmanuel Eneji Nkpeh, enumerated the value of public relations in his field as an electrical consultant.
“Nobody makes any progress in life without public relations image”, Nkpeh said and recognized the skills of public relations professionals in crisis management and effective communication, which inspired him to join the institute.
Another inductee from the state, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Comrade Matthew Okache, shared his reasons for joining the NIPR noting that as a practicing journalist, he had the desire to broaden his professionalism and contribute to community development.
He stressed the importance of trustworthiness in the field of public relations, stating, “If you are not trustworthy, definitely you can’t be a PR expert.”
Other inductees from Cross River are, Blessing Enagu, Fortune Udoinyang, Inyabri Ikonshor, Matthew Osaro, and Felicitas A. Agara.
