Ike NeliakuNigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) presidential hopeful, says he will work to establish a Public Relations University in Nigeria if elected.
He also promised to build a proper national headquarters in Abuja to be known as the “Nigerian House of Reputation”.
Neliaku made the promises in an interview with reporters about his aspiration to lead the institute.
The election of NIPR national officers is scheduled for August 24.
He said the university, which will be the first of its kind in Africa, will train public relations experts because the profession is vital to the country’s development.
Mr. Neliaku stated that feasibility and feasibility studies will be carried out first for the establishment of the institution in the same way that “it would broaden the curriculum and transform the current educational advisory council into a School of Public Relations, to be a school of completion for public relations professionals in Nigeria and a prelude to the Public Relations University of Nigeria”.
He expressed sadness that NIPR is still headquartered in a rented building in Abuja 60 years after its establishment.
He said that if elected, he would ensure that the national secretariat is relocated from the current facilities to a more suitable place, after which the process of erecting a national secretariat for the institute, which has already acquired land in the federal capital, would continue. .
“So gracious God, we were able to secure a piece of land in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, for the institute’s national secretariat. But before that, we just have to move from the square where we are to some place that is more suitable.
“This is because public relations is an image-making thing. It is a perception management platform. You can’t build a reputation if your reputation hasn’t been resolved. You can’t make an image if you don’t have an image yourself,” he said.
Mr. Neliaku, a former ministerial assistant, also pledged to reform the national secretariat “in terms of the quality of the staff, in terms of location, in terms of activities, in terms of equipment and in terms of reorganization, because that is our first step forward”.
In terms of professional development, the NIPR member said he would ensure completion of the ongoing “chadreization” process initiated by outgoing leadership to strengthen public relations practice in both the public and private sectors.
He said: “Now we have to complete it so that people can be happy to work as public relations officers in government in the private sector so that when they retire, they can use it; are certified by the Institute, they can retire as public relations consultants and become experts in public relations around the world.
He also said that he will “make sure that the institute provides added value to its members, both in terms of programs and development”, adding: “That is very important, because most of the time, people ask ‘what do we gain? ?
Mr. Neliaku said he would also ensure the digitization of NIPR operations by establishing an electronic database system to effectively manage information related to the institute’s members in real time across the country.
He also promised to empower NIPR state chapters to make them viable and sustainable, strengthen the rank and status of Fellows, and initiate a concrete revenue-generating campaign.
Mr. Neliaku, who has a doctorate in development studies, said he could turn things around for the institute if elected.
“Seeing the dynamics of what needs to be done and knowing that I am skilled and talented in most of those areas, I have shown interest. The most important thing is that you can’t lead people unless they want you to lead them.
“I have a very vibrant chapter that has called me out. They felt they should encourage me to run for this position. I have to be honest, and I have to give them that they started the process.
“The ability is there, the understanding of what is required is there, the right emotional intelligence is there. As for the network, it is there. As for enjoying the respect of your peers, it’s there. I will be denying the institute a great opportunity to turn things around,” she said.
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Let hear it in the comment below if you do have an opinion on this; I will work to establish PR University – Neliaku, presidential candidate