Determined to promote professionalism in the practice of public relations,
the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has introduced programmes
to train uncertified officers willing to develop a career in public
communication in the country.
The Chairman of the NIPR, Abuja chapter, Dr. Tayo Haastrup who made the
disclosure at the monthly Professional Platform of the Institute at
Transcorp Hilton Abuja, urged information officers and public communicators
to avail themselves of the programmes of the Institute for membership
certification.
Haastrup said “The NIPR Decree 16 of 1990 empowers the Institute to
regulate and monitor conformity to the ethical standards of Public
Relations practice in Nigeria. The law bars non-members from practicing
public communication in the country. The regulation also empowers the
Institute to prosecute offenders.
“The NIPR has windows of opportunity, through capacity building and
certification programmes for registering and inducting new members into the
profession.”
The Guest Speaker at the occasion and Publisher of PRNigeria, Mr. Yushau
Shuaib urged PR Practitioners to improve their media relations techniques
and update their social media skills for strategic communication.
Shuaib who spoke on Online PR said that the future of communication is
unfolding with the revolution of social media. He said “PR practitioners
should realise that while traditional media still remain relevant and
reliable, developing social media skills is very essential because
information online are affordable, faster, instantaneous with larger crowd
of audience
“The working schedule in this era of social media is 24/7 for monitoring
and responding to enquiries towards avoiding avoidable crises.”
Speaking on PR practice in Nigeria, the publisher urged the NIPR to emulate
other professional bodies that jealously guard the integrity of their
members and proudly protect the dignity of their professions. He said: “I
urged the NIPR to use its powers appropriately in sanctioning individuals
or organisations that abuse the regulations on professional ethics and
other sundry requirement of public communication.”
Also speaking at the occasion the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON),
Mr. Osita Okechukwu, urged Public Relations practitioners to use their
skills to promote national unity, peaceful coexistence and good image of
Nigeria.
Mr. Okechukwu, who solicited support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s
crusade on corruption and economic prosperity, noted that the PR
practitioners are the image makers therefore, NIPR could be a strategic
peace maker that can persuade good relationship between the executive and
legislative arms of the government.
He said “As communicators you should endeavour to contribute to a better
informed society that is stable, peaceful, united and prosperous. You can
achieve that as image makers by abiding to their professional training and
ethics and eschew hate campaigns.”