The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has commended Nasarawa State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Sule, for a significant turnaround in governance perception, following an improvement in the state’s reputation index from 30.4 per cent in 2024 to 83.6 per cent in 2026.

NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, disclosed this during the investiture of the governor as the patron of the institute in Abuja.

Neliaku said the institute’s engagement with Nasarawa State was guided by its mandate to monitor trends, manage perception and promote understanding between government and citizens.

He disclosed that an independent subnational perception survey conducted by the institute in 2024 ranked Nasarawa among the lowest-performing states, with a score of 30.4 per cent.

According to him, the findings were presented to the governor alongside identified gaps in governance, which Sule acknowledged with a commitment to reforms.

He revealed that a follow-up survey conducted in 2026 without the knowledge or input of the state government showed a sharp improvement, with the state recording an 83.6 per cent rating.

Neliaku attributed the improvement to deliberate governance reforms, transparency and responsiveness to public concerns, stressing that reputation remains a critical asset in leadership.

He said: “In that independent study, among all the other six states of the federation, Nasarawa State had a weak score of 30.4 per cent overall. We drew your attention to this result and went further to highlight areas of shortcomings in your administration. I recall very clearly your face. You did not show anger as some wouldn’t want to.

“But in your characteristic humble nature, you explained the challenges you faced at the time with funding and promised to take decisive steps to make sure that what ought to be done must be done. His Excellency did exactly what he said he was going to do.

“Two years later, in 2026, we conducted the second independent reputation perception governance survey of Nasarawa State. The survey was conducted without the knowledge nor input of anyone from Nasarawa government. Nobody knew we were doing this.

“We had to do it because, for us, your integrity is your account of anything that you want to ask for. And somebody told me that integrity is a strong resource. Whenever it is in red, it is like your background being in red.

“So we guide very generously because we didn’t want a decision whereby anybody may want to influence what we are doing. So we went ahead and conducted the second research to help us know if this is the right time to do what we are doing.

“I am delighted to say that the perception survey that was done recently saw Nasarawa rose from 30.4 per cent in 2024 to 83.6 per cent in 2026”.

He also commended Sule for partnering with the institute to host the 2026 World Public Relations Forum in Abuja, expected to attract over 3,000 participants globally.

Responding, the governor said his interest in NIPR was driven by its focus on leadership, innovation and capacity building, which he described as essential for Nigeria’s development.

“I have always wanted to understand what NIPR represents, and I discovered that it promotes innovation and leadership. That is why I developed a strong interest in the institute,” he said.

Sule noted that while Nigeria is endowed with vast potential, effective leadership remains key to translating these resources into sustainable development.

He also described his recognition by the institute during its 60th anniversary as a leadership prize that carries more weight than routine awards.

Speaking, Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi, praised Sule for investing in the next generation of public relations practitioners and strengthening institutional capacity for nation-building.

Rotimi said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a competent professional class capable of driving national development.

“When I first heard that the Governor of Nasarawa State was taking deliberate steps to invest in the next generation of public relations experts, I was impressed. That is exactly what you are doing—laying a foundation for the future,” he said.

He noted that the governor’s support for NIPR would help sustain the practice of public relations across generations, describing it as critical to shaping national discourse and strengthening democratic institutions.

The lawmaker, however, urged the governor to deepen efforts at addressing gender imbalance in governance, particularly in elective positions.

“While you have done well in appointive positions, we must do more to bridge the gender gap in parliament by encouraging more women to participate and secure seats in the next electoral cycle,” Rotimi added.

Special Adviser to the Ugandan President and International Director-General of the Institute for National Transformation, Prof Vincent Anibogu, called for reforms in Nigeria’s education system to produce graduates equipped with practical problem-solving skills.

“Our model has failed us. We are producing graduates who cannot produce anything. We must begin to train individuals who can solve real problems if Nigeria is to maintain its leadership position in Africa,” he said.

He urged the Nasarawa State Government to sustain its reforms and continue creating an enabling environment for investment, innovation and human capital development.