Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Abuja chapter, yesterday urged its members to often promote and project positive rather than negative occurrences from the country to the public and the world at large.
This call was made to all media and public relations practitioners at its Silver Jubilee AGM/Conference 2014, held in Abuja with the theme: “Public Relations Practice: Professionalism and Impact on Good Governance”.
In his welcome address, the chairman of the NIPR chapter, Mr. Ohaeri Osondu, pointed out that public relations entails the building and sustenance of cordial partnership for organisations and products with its key publics through the use of variety of communications channels and tools based on responsible performance.
According to him, over the years, the concept of nation-building has suffered serious drawbacks occasioned by myriad of issues which to a large extent deplete the corporate identity/image of the country even with numerous initiatives by the government towards national development.
Osondu said: “The challenge of nation-building is further worsened by the way and manner the Nigerian media report events emanating from our country such as the report which went viral recently on the alleged retreat of the Nigeria troops to Cameroun due to the superior fire power of the insurgents, thus dashing the hopes of the average Nigerian on the positives from the war against terrorism. These are some of the issues which require serious media scrutiny before going to the press.
“It is however instructive to note that nations are built by exemplary men and women and sustained by institutions that promote good governance and thus socio-economic development. Nations don’t just happen by historical accident; rather they are built by men and women with vision and resolve.
“We should strive to promote and project more of positives than negative fallouts from our country. If we fail to report ourselves appropriately, we should not expect otherwise from foreign media.”
He added that the FCT chapter of the NIPR deliberately chose to focus on the challenges of nation-building at this year’s AGM which also marks 25 years of the institute’s existence in the Federal Capital Territory.
In his remarks, President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, who was represented by Prof. Emmanuel Dandaruwa, congratulated the FCT chapter, also known as Capital Chapter, for its numerous outstanding programmes that can only be compared with the Lagos chapter while assuring the practitioners that their certification process would be completed in three months.
“We will make sure to make it as stress-free as possible,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, who was represented at the occasion by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi, said the NIPR can actually be the vanguard to inculcate into the people the right attitude so that more humanity can believe in the nation and converge therein.
Many other papers were delivered.
Highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to the Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Commandant General, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, Chairman, DAAR Communications Limited, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Hon. Chuka Julius Odom, Mr. Onoriode Kevin Akpe, Mr. Joe Itah and Mr. Uzoma Onyegbadue.