NIPR Charges Young Nigerians to Embrace Responsible Communication
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, has charged young Nigerians to embrace responsible communication, describing trustworthiness and respect as essential values for building relationships and promoting a more responsible society.
Neliaku gave the charge on Friday in Abuja during the Digital Campaign Programme organised as part of activities ahead of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), where he urged young communicators, students and social media influencers to recognise their responsibility in shaping public discourse.
Speaking on the values that should guide communication, the NIPR president recalled two principles he considered important in human relationships: being trustworthy and showing respect to others.
He stressed that respect should go beyond mere tolerance, arguing that genuine relationships and responsible communication must be founded on mutual regard and consideration.
Neliaku said the world was facing serious challenges partly because of irresponsible communication among individuals, institutions and nations, adding that the younger generation had an important role to play in changing the situation.
He described the young participants as the future of Nigeria, Africa and the global communication profession, urging them to use their influence positively and help promote the message of responsible communication beyond the WPRF.
The NIPR president also called on the participants to sustain the campaign and amplify its message, noting that the forum provided an opportunity for young Nigerians to connect with the international public relations community and contribute to conversations on the future of the profession.
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In his remarks at the event, President of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Prof. Justin Green, announced that NIPR had won the Best Global Association award for the second consecutive year, defeating competing professional associations from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, India and the Middle East.
Green congratulated the institute, describing the back-to-back recognition as a testament to the experience, expertise and professional capacity within Nigeria. He said the announcement came at a significant time as the country prepared to host the WPRF in Abuja, with participants expected from 126 countries.
He urged young Nigerians, particularly content creators and social media influencers, to intensify their efforts in promoting the forum, describing them as indispensable to the future of public relations. According to him, the influence of young people across geographical boundaries makes them important contributors to global communication.
On misinformation, Green said the responsibility to verify information before sharing it rested on everyone, including politicians, public officials, journalists, parents and young people. He stressed that individuals should not circulate information simply because it was received from someone else, but should first establish its accuracy and take responsibility for what they share.
The Global Alliance president also highlighted the professional opportunities available to NIPR members through the institute’s affiliation with the international body, saying its network of 126 member countries could provide opportunities for practitioners to engage with professional associations across the world.
He recalled that the campaign to bring the WPRF to Africa began more than a decade ago and initially faced doubts about the continent’s ability to host such an international gathering. He urged Nigerians to take pride in the country’s preparations and continue supporting the campaign as Abuja prepares to welcome the global communications community.
