•As Nigeria set for World University of Public Relations

The President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, has said effective communications, transparency and integrity will help rebuild trust in the country’s eco system.

Neliaku stated this at the Rivers State Public Relations week held in Port Harcourt. He said trust has become a major issue in Nigerian society, as citizens have increasingly lost confidence in their leaders, a situation he described as disturbing. He lamented the poor communication attitude of some Nigerian leaders, urging them to understand the nexus between leadership and effective communication.

“Leaders in both public and private sectors need to know that information is not communication,” he said. “Citizens have the right to know — not just what their government is doing, but how and why decisions are made at the federal, state, and local levels.”

Neliaku said identifying and engaging stakeholders remains fundamental to effective leadership, sound governance, and institutional sustainability.
He said, “you rebuild trust by doing things differently. You rebuild trust by doing what communities, citizens, and society expect you not to do — but you rise above it and do what you are expected to do.”

He also disclosed that in 2026, Nigeria will be home to the world’s first University of Public Relations and Leadership. He explained that the university would be launched next year and would be a platform for training public relations practitioners in Nigeria and Africa; thus, helping to fill a gap he said was affecting leadership in the country and beyond.

“The university will train people on public relations. Leadership fails because they don’t understand public relations. The nexus between public relations and leadership is profound but is not well managed,” he noted.

The Rivers State Head of service (HoS), who represented Governor Siminalayi Fubara, announced that the state government has decided to domesticate the public relations career profession policy of the Federal Government to add value to public service. The Rivers Head of Service said the state governor believes in truth and accountability-based public sector communication and engagement.

“The governor (Siminalayi Fubara) believes that in times like this, truth, transparency and accountability must be the foundation of all communications in the public sector. His Excellency believes that governance must be people – focused,” she said.

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, represented by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Thompson Wakama, said addressing economic challenges in the Niger Delta requires stakeholder engagement, stating that NDDC is exploring the strategy.

Ogbuku said the commission was ready to partner with NIPR to achieve sustainable development. Francis Asuk, chairman of the Rivers State chapter, in his welcome address, said strategic communication was central to peace building and governance hence the time had come for leaders to engage professional public relations practitioners in managing and communicating through sensitive issues.

“The expertise of PR professionals in stakeholder mapping, perception management, conflict resolution and narrative framing can make a crucial difference in restoring confidence, bridging divides and shaping a more stable and progressive Rivers State.