By joshua NIPR KOGI STEPS UP ADVOCACY, SEEKS FULL REGISTRATION OF INFORMATION OFFICERS WITH INSTITUTE
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Kogi State Chapter has intensified efforts to promote membership and professional compliance among Information Officers in government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and other parastatals, with an advocacy visit to the Information Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ.
During the meeting with executives of the Information Chapel in Lokoja, the State Chairman of NIPR, Alhaji Ismaila Isah, said Information Officers play a critical role in strategic communication for government and remain pivotal to reactivating the Kogi chapter and driving compliance with the NIPR Act. He noted that the Act makes it mandatory for anyone practicing Public Relations to be duly registered with the Institute.
Isah called on members of the Chapel to lead the advocacy for the recategorization of Information Officers in government MDAs as full-fledged Public Relations practitioners. According to him, the move will expand their responsibilities and give the profession greater impetus. He also urged employers to recognize PR practice as a core management function and integrate it into the decision-making process for effective communication and reputation management.
The Chairman disclosed that NIPR state chapters have become the fulcrum for implementing the Institute’s activities nationwide. He implored the executives of the Chapel to encourage Information Officers and members across all state-owned MDAs and other institutions to register with NIPR in order to benefit from the wide range of opportunities the Institute offers.
Also speaking, the Secretary of NIPR Kogi Chapter, Abu Micheal, emphasized the need for the Chapel to galvanize its membership base, register with the Institute, and join the advocacy to reposition PR practice in the state.
Receiving the NIPR delegation, the Chairman of NUJ Information Chapel, Mr. Solomon Musa, appreciated the visit and said it had long been the intention of members to properly register with NIPR as part of advancing their careers. He sought the support of the NIPR Chairman to secure the buy-in of the Commissioner for Information and Communications and other ministries, citing the Commissioner’s strategic role in managing government information and communication processes.
In his remarks, the Secretary of the Information Chapel, Benjamin Abah, stressed the importance of management of MDAs extending support and motivation to their Information Officers to enable them advance their knowledge and skills for effective delivery of government programmes and policies across the state and beyond.
The engagement ended with both parties agreeing to collaborate on membership drive, capacity building, and promoting compliance with professional standards in public relations practice in Kogi State.