President and Chairman of the Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, has said that for too long, Nigeria’s image has been left unprotected, stressing the need for deliberate efforts to manage the country’s reputation globally.

Speaking at the World PR Day Soirée and PR Power List Awards organised by GLG Communications at the Mike Adenuga centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, Neliaku noted that public relations must go beyond image-building to long-term reputation management.

According to him, reputation defines the social capital of a nation and determines how it is perceived, respected, and engaged with globally, adding that the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, established by NIPR in October last year, was created to fill this gap and is working with key ministries and stakeholders to design a national framework for reputation management.

“We did this because we understood very clearly that for a very long time, the reputation gates of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have been left unmanned, and we felt that we should take that responsibility.”

Creative Director at Woof Studios, Adetutu Laditan, said Public Relations had continued to evolve, playing an increasingly crucial role in shaping perception and driving brand awareness.

Convener of the event, Omawunmi Ogbe, said the event was organised to celebrate the resilience, creativity, and impact of PR professionals shaping narratives across Nigeria and the diaspora.