NIPR Inducts 421 New Members, Cautions Against Quackery
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted 421 new members into its fold, with a warning that the full weight of the law will come on those who pretend to be engaging in the practice of public relations without being licensed by the Institute in line with the Act establishing it.
Those inducted are largely information and public relations officers who came to be formally certified as qualified practitioners in line with the advocacy and campaigns the NIPR has embarked upon over the years.
Speaking at the induction ceremony at Press Centre, Radio House in Abuja on Saturday, December 7, 2024, the NIPR, President, Dr. Ike Neliaku described public relations as a solution-providing profession that should not be left in the hands of those without the needed trainings and qualifications.
He said, "As a matter of fact, the Act establishing the Institute provides for criminal prosecution for someone who is practicing public relations for gains without being certified by NIPR.
"If a person is found guilty of breaching the Act, there is option of fine, option of imprisonment and there is provision for both combined but the important thing is that the moment you are convicted, you become an ex-convict along with the stigma that comes with it. We are calling on quacks to stay away from public relations", he cautioned.
Dr. Neliaku who had earlier in the day in Kaduna, participated in a government-citizens dialogue on Tax Reform Bills before the National Assembly, reiterated the readiness of NIPR to continue identifying and designing programmes that will add values to the nation and the citizens.
"We recognise that we take responsibility to create platforms for effective engagement between the government and the governed, when citizens are properly engaged, they take ownership of government programmes, when they are given the opportunity to air their views, it goes a long way to build consensus", he stated.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris lauded NIPR for remaining a bastion of excellence in providing training, certification and a framework for ethical conduct in the field of public relations.
"Through its efforts, the NIPR has nurtured generations of professionals who continue to play pivotal roles in nation-building. I commend the leadership of the NIPR for their dedication to advancing the profession and for organising this induction ceremony, which underscores the importance of continuous professional development", the Minister represented by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol, Dr. Sulaiman Haruna stated.
The Minister reiterated his commitment to ensure that the country's public communication systems are robust, transparent, and aligned with the best practices, describing the induction ceremony as part of his broader vision to strengthen the capacity of information officers across all tiers of government to engage meaningfully with the public and counter misinformation effectively.
Highlight of the event was the investiture of the Managing Director, NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe as Honorary Fellow of NIPR.
