The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), led by its President Dr. Ike Neliaku, has inducted an unprecedented 2,040 new members in eight months.
This was disclosed in Abuja at the second Diamond Anniversary Induction for media and allied practitioners. Image Merchants Promotion Limited CEO, Yushau Shuaib, and Nigerian Air Force spokesperson, AVM Edward Gabkwet, received NIPR Diamond Award of Excellence in Professional Practice.
Dignitaries in attendance included former Ministers of Information, Frank Nweke jnr, Labaran Maku, Lai Mohammed, and Chukwuemeka Chikelu, who received an Honorary Fellowship Award.
NIPR Membership Committee Chairman, Maryam Sanusi recalled that the induction process began on December 1, 2023 with a virtual ceremony for 265 new members, followed by the induction of 32 Police PROs on December 13, 2023, and a special induction of 25 members on January 16, 2024.
There was a virtual inauguration of 228 members on March 22 and 46 ISDEVCOM (Institute of Strategic Development Communications) scholars on April 18. The Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRWeek) in Abeokuta on April 25 witnessed the addition of 52 new members.
Others were special Diamond Anniversary inductions, which took place on June 20 and July 11 with 605 and 540 new members, respectively. The most recent investiture occurred on July 22, with 94 Babcock University graduates joining the institute.
Earier, the NIPR welcomed 153 student members during inductions held at the University of Benin, Mcpherson University, Crescent University, Chrisland University, and Moshood Abiola University during the NPRWeek celebrations.
In her remark, Sanusi said: “This is a testament to the increasing recognition and importance of public relations in Nigeria. Under the council led by Dr. Ike Neliaku, in less than 12 months, we made it a priority to expand our reach, embrace new talents, and empower the next generation of PR professionals.”
Since August 2023, when the Neliaku-led executive assumed office, the NIPR has strengthened its influence and impact on the country’s communication landscape, with impactful activities such as the fight against quackery in the public relations industry.
Apart from pioneering the National Spokesperson Summit and Awards and NPRWeek, the institute signed an agreement with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and African Public Relations Association (APRA) towards establishing a Public Relations University and Leadership Academy in Nigeria.
The NIPR launched “REBIRTH Nigeria” to reposition Africa’s biggest nation through values re-orientation and promote made-in-Nigeria products, and has also established the Young Professionals Initiative to nurture the next generation of PR experts.
The institute secured several partnerships with public and private stakeholders in commemoration of its 60th anniversary, which included a long walk and planting of 60 trees across major cities on June 1 to sustain the environment.
