Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted 515 new members into the professional body both of the body’s direct admission class and executive master class.
NIPR conducted the hybrid induction of the new members both physical and online at the Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) in Keffi local government area of Nasarawa state on Friday.
Dr Ike Neliaku, President, NIPR in his speech charged the new inductees to be change drivers using their licence as certified public relations professionals to offer qualitative leadership and project the good image of Nigeria.
“Today you are been licensed as effective communicators who will give Nigeria qualitative leadership wherever you find yourself.
“We are starting early to groom you, mould you and build you as that successor generation of powerful leaders for this nation. So public relations is very critical to leadership,” he said.
He told the 238 inductees physically present and 277 online that public relations was also vital to development.
He explained that those who influence development are effective communicators hence the need for them to maximize their skill in pushing for impactful development wherever they find themselves.
“As young leaders please bear in mind that you have become development advocates, development drivers who will find out what the citizens want and meet their needs in rendering development,” he said.
He further admonished them to use public relations as a weapon for nation building and not nation destroying and most importantly see themselves as lovers of Nigeria.
“Do not join those that want to use their mouth to destroy out nation. Our nation is going through challenges but this is the only nation you have on earth. Don’t join those who use their mouths to run out nation down,” he said.
In an interview, Mr Danmusa Mohammed, an inductee said he was very excited and fulfilled to be inducted into the NIPR having practiced as a journalist for 30 years.
“It has always been my dream to join the public relations family and NIPR is doing a lot in sanitizing the society, especially creating a narrative for the country, a positive narrative and making people to believe in the country.
“I want to be part of that effort and contribute my quota through my public relations effort in developing Nigeria,” he said.
Mr Joseph Kaka, another inductee described the induction as a day of harvest and the beginning of a professional career in public relations by the inductees and praised the NIPR for constantly working hard to train and churn out public relations professionals from across the country.
