Stop Appointing Non-professionals as Spokespersons, NIPR Warns MDAs
•Inducts 421 new members
•As information minister warns against fake news
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has urged ministries, departments and agencies under the federal government to stop appointing uncertified professionals as spokesmen and heads of their information units and departments.
The institute expressed concerns that many quacks have infiltrated the profession and exhibiting unethical conducts.
It warned that there would henceforth be dire consequences for anyone practisingpublic relations without being certified.
The National President of the institute, Dr. Ike Neliaku, gave the warning at the induction ceremony of 421 new members and officers of the Federal Ministry of Information in Abuja on Saturday night.
According to him, any public relations expert caught practising without certification risks being prosecuted and imprisoned.
He said, “People are beginning to appreciate the practice of public relations as a solution-providing institute.
“Secondly, we have been advocating for those who are qualified to come forward and become chartered.
“According to the law of the federation, you are a quack if you are not certified by the institute.
“As a matter of fact, the law of the institute provides for criminal prosecution for persons practising public relations without certification from the institute.
“Nobody wants to be an ex-convict because if a person is taken to court, there is option of fine, imprisonment or both.
“The important thing is that once you are convicted, you become an ex-convict. It is as serious as that and there is a stigma that goes with anybody that becomes an ex-convict.”
The Minister of Information, Idris Mohammed said the Federal Government recognised the role of effective communication in governance.
Idris was represented on the occasion by the Director of Public Relations and Protocol in his ministry, Suleiman Haruna.
He raised the alarm that some mischievous Nigerians have started taking advantage of the digital age to peddle fake news and misinformation.
He said, “We operate in a dynamic environment where the speed and scale of information dissemination present both challenges and opportunities.
“The digital age has empowered citizens with access to information but has also given rise to misinformation and disinformation.
“As professionals, you are now tasked with the critical responsibility of ensuring that truth prevails over falsehood and that facts triumph over fiction.
“To the newly inducted members, I charge you to uphold the values of the NIPR and to be ambassadors of truth, integrity, and excellence in your respective roles.
“Remember, your work does not merely reflect on your organization or institution; it reflects on the entire nation.
“In a world driven by information, the role of public relations professionals has never been more vital. Use your platforms to foster unity and project Nigeria in a positive light to the global community.”
Among the newly decorated NIPR members was the pioneer Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation Limited, Mrs. Emmanuel Arukwe, who was inducted as an honorary fellow of the institute.
When asked how her foundation has impacted the lives of Nigerians, Arukwe said it has touched the lives of many persons in the society including the training of over 500,000 members of the National Youth Service Corp members.
“The NNPC Foundation has been impacted in various ways, especially in the area of education. For instance, we have commenced an NYSC programme where we have trained over 500,000 corp members on how to run businesses.
“We are also working with our partners to ensure they get the corp members to run their businesses at discounted rates. We are now with the final trainees.
“We have veered into other areas like the Liquefied Natural Gas where we have been trying to bring CNG on board. As an impactful organisation, we have done so much in humanitarian endeavour,” she stated.
