NIPR Identifies Corporate Integrity as Catalyst for Economic Progress
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has underscored corporate integrity as a central driver of Nigeria’s economic growth, investor confidence, and sustainable development.
This declaration came during the 2nd Reputation Roundtable organized by the NIPR FCT Chapter, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura, Acting President of the institute, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the urgent need to embed integrity within corporate and institutional governance.
Addressing an audience of business leaders, diplomats, regulators, development partners, and public servants, Prof. Dandaura emphasized that reputation is no longer a mere communication outcome but a critical governance metric.
“Power without integrity is temporary. Reputation today travels at the speed of social media, and trust once lost is far harder to restore than capital itself,” he stated.
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He explained that Nigeria’s GDP growth projections of 3.5%, coupled with stubbornly high unemployment above 30% and inflation exceeding 20%, are more than abstract statistics—they represent lived realities that shape public confidence in institutions.
Dandaura warned that the global investment climate has become increasingly sensitive to governance standards. Foreign direct investment in sub-Saharan Africa, he noted, fell by 12% last year due to perceptions of inadequate transparency and compliance.
For Nigeria, he argued, corporate integrity is no longer optional—it is a competitive asset that shapes the nation’s economic trajectory.
He further stressed that integrity must be embedded structurally within organizations rather than being an aspirational slogan.
“When perception is aligned with authentic purpose, and power operates within accountable frameworks, the outcome is more than trust—it is credibility. And where credibility exists, investment follows,” Prof. Dandaura said, urging organizations to make ethical governance a central part of strategic planning.
He further called on Nigerian corporations, regulators, and public institutions to view integrity as the foundation upon which economic resilience, social stability, and sustainable growth are built.
