Unpacking Dr. Fatima Binta’s NIPR Vision: A Candid Chat with PRNigeria Interns
It was a typical Saturday evening when the unexpected ping of a WhatsApp message from our PRNigeria Intern Coordinator, Mr. Zekeri Idakwo, signaled a new challenge: a Monday morning media chat with a mystery guest.
For us, the interns, this was business as usual, coming just a week after engaging with respected and award-winning editors and columnists, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju and Mr. Steve Nwosu, during their visit to the PRNigeria Centre Abuja. That was also hot on the heels of hosting Alhaji Shehu Dandakata, Chairman of the Arewa Economic Forum, for a discussion on the plight of Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators in Nigeria.
Our internship at PRNigeria Centre goes far beyond textbooks; it’s a deep dive into the practical world of public relations, where weekends often bring new assignments – pitching, writing, and even public speaking. It’s demanding, yes, but the thrill of seeing our work published nationally makes every late-night session worthwhile.
This particular Saturday brought a new twist: a two-hour deadline to conduct a background check on someone we’d never met. We felt like private detectives, sifting through information to craft a concise brief. This rigorous approach is a hallmark of our program, which also divides us into groups with assigned roles – MC, editor, speaker. There’s no hiding behind AI here; every intern must be ready to articulate their research.
By Sunday, after submitting our briefs, we were tasked with drafting questionnaires. This was where the learning truly began: Group A was assigned “PR questions,” while Group B focused on “journalistic questions.” We quickly learned the distinction: PR questions are designed to be friendly and facilitative, while journalistic questions are often more probing and confrontational. This exercise alone was an invaluable lesson in media engagement.
Monday morning arrived, and our mystery guest appeared on screen: Dr. Ahmadu Fatimah-Binta, a prominent candidate for Vice Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). After a warm welcome, we launched into our questions, a mix of the friendly and the formidable. Dr. Ahmadu, with a reassuring smile and occasional laughter, responded thoughtfully to every query, even those from her professional colleagues who had joined the virtual session.
Dr. Fatima Binta’s vision for Nigeria’s public relations landscape is truly comprehensive. She addressed critical questions about her background, her campaign strategy, and her character with remarkable candor. With over two decades of experience spanning medicine and strategic communication, Dr. Ahmadu is a distinguished professional. Her unique ability to merge clinical expertise with public relations and community development has cemented her reputation as a results-driven leader.
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Her journey to the NIPR Vice Chairmanship is a natural progression, having served in several respected positions within the chapter, including Internal Auditor, Assistant General Secretary, and currently, General Secretary. What’s particularly fascinating is her initial career in medicine. While seemingly disparate, Dr. Ahmadu recognized the profound interconnectivity between medicine and communication. As she explained, “A patient does not actually get to relate to the doctor without communicating, and the doctor cannot actually get to the patient without understanding.”
This realization ignited her passion for public relations, not as an abandonment of medicine, but as an expansion of her professional impact.
Naturally, concerns arose about her ability to balance her roles as a medical doctor and a communication expert with the demanding responsibilities of Vice Chairman. Dr. Ahmadu, however, was confident. She detailed her disciplined approach to scheduling her medical practice and her proven ability to manage both roles effectively, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and task prioritization.
Dr. Ahmadu’s campaign slogan, “Service, Integrity, Progress,” is clearly more than just words; it’s a guiding principle that has shaped her contributions as General Secretary and will continue to drive her in the potential Vice Chairman role. Her manifesto outlines ambitious plans: professional development and capacity building, robust advocacy and stakeholder engagement, unwavering commitment to ethics and discipline in PR, enhanced member welfare and inclusion, collaboration with the Innovation and Digital Transformation Team, and sustainable revenue growth.
When pressed on her slogan’s significance, Dr. Ahmadu emphasized her commitment to listening to members, providing practical solutions, and upholding the highest standards of integrity – lessons gleaned from her past positions. She passionately articulated the importance of communication integrity and the need for clear, honest dialogue. Her vision for “progress” involves expanding NIPR’s reach, attracting more members and organizations into the Lagos chapter, and ultimately positioning Lagos as the hub for Nigerian public relations, seeking global recognition and impact.
Her nine years of service have provided invaluable exposure, during which she experienced “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Experiences from previous offices, particularly as Internal Auditor, equipped her with crucial financial knowledge, broadened her engagement with diverse sectors, and honed her ability to navigate challenges and find effective solutions. For Dr. Ahmadu, the learning process and the need to adapt to new situations remain ongoing.
Indeed, Dr. Ahmadu boasts a demonstrable track record of integrity, honesty, and effective service. Her personal engagement with members, coupled with her ability to foster resolutions and address their needs, further strengthens her candidacy. She reiterated her unwavering commitment to working with integrity and honesty in the new role.
The discussion also benefited from the insights of respected figures like Mr. Raymond Asuquo, a member of the Lagos chapter, who contributed significantly. Muyiwa Akintunde, a member of the electoral committee, maintained neutrality but commended Dr. Ahmadu for her clear responses and wished her well.
In her final appeal, Dr. Ahmadu positioned herself as a more than capable candidate, equally adept at upholding traditional PR values and embracing disruptive innovation. While our discussion with Dr. Ahmadu concluded on a high note, it’s clear that her journey to becoming Vice Chairman will require continued effort and dedication. It was an enlightening experience, offering us a glimpse into the strategic mind of a leader poised to shape the future of public relations in Nigeria.
With this, we are are awaiting another task
This article is written by PRNigeria Interns Group B Hanniel Sebatie Nobo, Fatima Ikram Abubakar and Khadijah Lawan Mohammad.
