NIPR Presidency: What Neliaku, Ali-Balogun Are Telling Delegates Ahead 2023 AGM Election

NIPR Presidency: What Neliaku, Ali-Balogun Are Telling Delegates Ahead 2023 AGM Election

The battle for who becomes the next President and Chairman, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, is now getting ‘hotter’, ahead of the 2023 NIPR Annual General Meeting Conference/Elections, PRNigeria has gathered.

Dr. Ike Neliaku and Nkechi, PRNigeria reports, are the two candidates vying for the office of the NIPR President to succeed the incumbent President of the Institute, Mal. Mukhtar Sirajo Zubairu.

The NIPR general meeting conference/elections tagged, “Abuja 2023”, will take place between August 23rd and 25th, 2023, with the theme: Leadership, Public Relations and Value Creation.

PRNigeria gathered that as the date for the NIPR election inches forward, several Fellows and members of the Institute are concerned about what the presidential candidates are bringing to the table.

A cross section of them who spoke to PRNigeria submitted that the NIPR needs a ‘visionary leader’ who will consolidate on the achievements recorded by Mukhtar Sirajo, the outgoing President and Chairman, NIPR Governing Council.

But what actually are Dr. Neliaku and Ali-Balogun promising NIPR members and delegates in the build up to their historic AGM Conference and Election?

PRNigeria can authoritatively report that Neliaku, in a letter expressing his interest to contest, stated that his trajectory of services across professional, public and private sector engagements, and the experiences garnered therefrom in over 35 years of active practice, have thoroughly prepared him to lead the NIPR at a time like this.

Moreover, the propelling support he enjoyed from his FCT Chapter gave him further confidence to step forward and offer himself to take the NIPR to a Higher Rise.

Neliaku wrote: “I started my journey in NIPR at the professional entry level of Associate Membership (anipr), from where I graduated to Full Member (MNIPR) in July 1995, and Fellow (FNIPR) in October 2005.

“My progression through the rungs of NIPR ladder is laced with passion for a profession I consider to be one of the best in the world; a profession that carries the most relevant content of all human endeavour.

“In the private sector, I currently serve as Executive Vice Chairman, Rightangle PR; Executive Vice Chairman, ABC Shelters; Executive Producer, Rightangle Productions; Convener, Issachar Centre for Research and Development; Executive Secretary and Member, Governing Board, Nigerian Prize for Leadership.”

At a recent meeting with stakeholders pending when he would officially unveil his vision for NIPR, Dr. Neliaku said that he would collaborate with peers in various chapters, and champion international clout towards adding distinct member value through continuing education, advanced career opportunities and networking practices.

He promised to sustain and improve public engagements including inductions, conferences and summits for awareness creation, capacity building, empowerment and skills acquisition.

He also discussed mentorship programmes for students, interns and budding communicators to inspire their interest in the profession.

Beyond that, Dr. Neliaku highlighted the necessity of putting in place a monitoring mechanism to support, protect and promote members, as well as organize annual events to acknowledge professionalism and excellence demonstrated, by members and other stakeholders

He further added that it is crucial to invest strategically on befitting structures for profitability and enhancing the reputation of the Institute.

On her part, Ali-Balogun, said that she is set to execute her road map to reposition the Institute, as soon as she is elected President of the NIPR.

A Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and a Senior Member of the African Public Relations Association (APPRA), Mrs Nkechi Ali-Balogun is the Principal Consultant/CEO of NECCI Limited, a PR firm based in Lagos.

She also holds a first degree in English/Education and a master’s degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos. She also obtained an MBA in Management programme from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka

At a recent media interaction, she said: “First of all, the problem we have is this issue of benefits. What does a holder of NIPR certificate benefit? The person with an ICAN certificate is upgraded and given some perks of office but we are still seeking recognisable relevance for our NIPR certificate. So, the first thing we must do is ‘caderization’. It’s there in my agenda.

“We must work on affiliations, so that we can open channels of learning. For instance, why can’t we have our interns going to Public Relation industries to run their internship? And then, we have to update our curriculum. We would seek the support of the government, which they gave us before but just didn’t pursue it. We need to be able to profile who a public relations person is. There’s a past president of NIPR that actually started a recertification and gave each member a number, so that if you are working or dealing with a practitioner and he/she doesn’t have that number, then it’s fake. We will now enforce it.

“One of the problems of NIPR is the issue of enforcement. We have everything needed to regulate the industry. So, I am going to enforce a lot of things, it has to be done and I know with the support of our members and stakeholders, we will do it. The public relations consultants are solidly behind me because they too want to change the story.

“So, I will continue the great work that our Institute has been doing, while also bringing new ideas and initiatives that will benefit our members and the profession as a whole. I believe that my experience, leadership skills, and dedication to our profession make me the best candidate for this role”.

By PRNigeria