As part of activities to mark the 2023 World PR Day, one of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations (PR) firms, GLG Communications, yesterday, hosted a virtual Conversation tagged “Global Insights: Harnessing the Power Of Public Relations” in line with this year’s theme. The conversation brought together leading voices in the global PR and communications industry to set the tone for this year’s celebration.
 

The virtual conference, anchored by the Head of Marketing and Communications at I&M Bank Rwanda, Fiona Kamikazi, had notable speakers and industry leaders from across Africa, Europe, and America, such as the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, Jide Sipe;  CEO, Muck Rack, Gregory Galant; Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BHM Holdings, Ayeni Adekunle; CEO at Co-Communications and TEDx Speaker, Stacey Ross Cohen; CEO UK/EMEA at Brand Advance Group, Deborah Gbadamosi; Tech Reporter at WRAL & Founder of Reify Media, Sarah Glova PhD; Group CEO at AvianWE, Nitin Mantri; President, World Communications Forum Association, Maxim Behar; Executive Chairman THOP The Holding Opinion and Public (Côte d’Ivoire), Kwame Senou as speakers.
 
In her keynote remarks, GLG Communications Managing Partner Omawumi Ogbe, noted that while the PR industry would continue to shape and inspire businesses and governance, it must also adapt to change.

Meanwhile, its World PR Day activities culminated with a cocktail reception and fireside chat.
 
Also, at the event, GLG Communications, in partnership with The Guardian Nigeria, unveiled the much-anticipated PR Power List – the definitive yearly list that “recognises and celebrates the top 50 PR and communication professionals in Nigeria. Published exclusively by The Guardian, the 2023 PR Power List will feature some returning honorees from last year and new entrants who have distinguished themselves in the last 12 months. ”
 
Ogbe said: “The role of public relations in the larger society is now more prominent and accepting wider recognition. It’s also a clarion call for us to continue to adapt to the changing times and the reality of the world as it is.”

Also speaking on the list, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Nigeria, Mr. Martins Oloja, said “the newspaper is proud to continue celebrating the efforts and achievements of practitioners in the PR and communications industry in Nigeria.”

“The reception for the inaugural PR Power List in 2022 was phenomenal, confirming that it was long overdue. We will continue to do this for as long as possible, hoping that it would become part of the industry culture in Nigeria,” he said.

The speakers underscored the need for PR professionals to embrace and leverage technology for improved service delivery in this modern age.

BHM Holdings Founder and CEO Ayeni Adekunle said: “As a PR practitioner, what sets you apart from your counterpart is how you are able to innovate. We need to be able to add technology to the training that we have.”
 
Similarly, Group CEO at AvianWE and Past President of International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO) & Public Relations Consultants Association of India (PRCAI), Nitin Mantri, said, “As a PR practitioner, you need to keep getting knowledge. We need to be at the forefront of technology.”
 
“To be a really great PR professional, it’s important to learn how to use these AI tools and leverage them to increase growth,” Muck Rack CEO Gregory Galant said, agreeing with the other speakers.
 
However, Tech Reporter at WRAL & Founder of Reify Media, Dr Sarah Glova implored communication experts to exercise caution as they adopt AI tools to avoid losing touch with their audience. “Because it’s easier for us to write with AI, sometimes we skip the steps that connect us with our audience,” she said.
 
Emphasising the importance of building trust in the industry, the President of the World Communications Forum Association, Maxim Behar, said, “We don’t sell services to the client. We don’t sell services to the media. We don’t sell anything to anybody. What we sell as PR practitioners is TRUST.”
 
In the same vein, CEO/President Co-Communications, Author, and TEDx Speaker Stacey Ross Cohen said, “The most valuable media is the one you can’t buy. As practitioners, we have to be mindful to add value, not clutter.”
 
Executive Chairman THOP The Holding Opinion and Public (Côte d’Ivoire), Kwame Senou added that PR practitioners can “lead the discussion in a world of distrust” if they “recognise their power, in access, speed and strategy thinking.”
 
Speaking on this year’s PR Power List, Ogbe noted that the list goes all out to recognise PR professionals who are usually behind the scenes making magic happen for clients and so often forget to celebrate themselves.
 
“With The PR Power List, our goal is to shine a spotlight on the tireless efforts of these often overlooked professionals and highlight their vital contributions to the business landscape and the community at large,” said Ogbe.
 
“The PR Power List is also a call to action on our important role as PR professionals, reminding us not to relent in delivering our best for our clients, our industry and the greater good. At GLG Communications, we will continue to root for individuals who have uplifted the PR Industry through achievements by way of innovation and outstanding work,” she added.
 
World PR Day is an annual celebration dedicated to public relations professionals and communications practitioners across the globe as they seek to present a unified global agenda for a better understanding and utilisation of public relations practice.