The President Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku commended the the Executive Director Institute of Public Communication (IPC) Dr. Suleiman A Suleiman for making it a point of duty to visit the NIPR, he said this while receiving the IPC team he described the NIPR as both a regulatory and a practicing body of the various aspects of public relations.
Speaking further he said, “I have invited the Vice president NIPR, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura who is also the chairman, education advisory board (EAB) as many objectives of your institute largely centres on activities of the EAB where we have various sector groups that you can key into, the Public relations space is too big for NIPR to serve hence the need for corporate partners such as IPC to close the gap”.
The president urged the IPC to write to the EAB so as to be on same page to avoid clash of programs as he has experienced in the past. This will enable both sides align their objectives of a better democratic space.
Earlier on, Dr. Suleiman in his remarks stated that Series of recent events in the country shows a gap in communication between the government and citizens hence the need to have a deliberate move to remedy the situation. He sighted examples of the suspended RUGA bill, the backlash that has greeted the tax reform bill, and the cyber levy bill to mention a few.
Similarly, Dr. Suleiman stated that, Strategic communication on programs and policies of government should be designed to start with consultation at the stage of conception. Consultation should be done along with key stakeholders especially at the grassroot or constituency who will be mostly affected with such policies. This will enhance democratic inclusion, transparency, and trust between the leadership between the government and citizens, also between organisational leaders and staff of private and non-governmental organisations.
IPC does not seek to speak or advertise for government or any organisation but to be a capacity building institute for spokespersons, media aides and publicity departments of government private and non-profit organisations. Dr. Suleiman thanked the NIPR for the wonderful reception and various advice.
