Dear colleagues,

Greetings from the Governing Council of your great Institute.

2. It is World Public Relations Day, (WPRD) 2025, and I am delighted to address you on this special day that offers us an opportunity to reflect on our journey of over six decades since Public Relations was formally birthed in Nigeria. 

3. It is a good moment for members of the great profession to reflect on our actions and inactions towards the development of our profession and boldly develop new frontiers for a greater Institute.

4. This year’s WPRD with the theme: “Building Bridges and Overcoming Polarization,” resonates deeply with our enduring commitment to the values of Public Relations, particularly in the areas of fostering relationships, strengthening leadership, and advancing good governance.

5. Public Relations has evolved beyond the perceived traditional roles of media relations and protocol services to strategic leadership function that is crucial to shaping institutions, transforming societies, and driving inclusive governance, through effective and goal-oriented communication.

6. As the largest public relations body in Africa, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) remains at the forefront in creating platforms that groom credible and competent leaders who will be the torch-bearers in leadership that best defines us truly as the giant of Africa.

7. The University of Public Relations and Leadership (UPRL) project of the Institute is the first of its kind globally, carefully designed to bridge leadership gap across the continent. We are sincerely grateful to the Nasarawa State Government, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Leadership Advancement Foundation, and the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, for their support to this noble initiative.

8. The NIPR has in recent times taken bold steps towards building a bridge of trust between the government and the people, and among citizens of our dear nation. The 2022 Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security organized by the Institute was a strategic intervention to save the nation from the dangers of distrust, antagonism and clear loss of love. We embarked on the programme because we believe that nation-building is a core component of our profession and we must at all time, both at National and Chapters, ensure that we provide value to the society as part of our key responsibilities.

9. The 2nd Nigeria Spokespersons Summit (NSS) that held in April this year was another robust platform that the Federal Government of Nigeria leveraged to communicate its current tax reform policies to spokespersons from across different organizations (both public and private) and across various States of the federation, who in turn took the message to the grassroots. These are all ways public relations build bridges and overcome polarization.

10. As you are aware, Nigeria will again be on the map of global history in November, 2026 when the country will host the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), a gathering of industry professionals and thought leaders from the 126 member countries of the Global Alliance. This is a nation re-branding project that the NIPR has intentionally attracted to Africa and particularly to Nigeria to position the country for global relevance.

11. The Institute therefore, requires the support of all external and internal stakeholders, including the Chapters in executing the WPRF project. Again, we appreciate the leadership of Global Alliance for its confidence in the nation’s capacity to host this highest industry global event. It is a challenge thrown to us and we must do everything professionally possible to rise to the occasion and deliver the biggest, brightest and boldest WPRF.

12. As we celebrate this year’s World Public Relations Day, let us recommit ourselves to the ideals of our profession with pride, purpose, and a clear resolve to keep building bridges of trust, professionalism and excellence, mutually beneficial relationships and development where others build walls.

13. Let us use the instrumentality of Public Relations to build the new Nigerians that will build a new Nigeria.

14. Be joyful. It is our day, it is the 2025 World Public Relations Day!

15. Thank you and God bless.
 
Dr. Ike Neliaku, fnipr
 President, NIPR
16th July, 2025