By joshua 
NIPR Kogi Chapter Returns After 15 Years, Sets Agenda for Professional Growth
The Kogi State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, has been reactivated after 15 years of inactivity, with an interim executive committee inaugurated to drive its revival.
Chairman of the Interim Executive Committee, Ismaila Isah, said the development marks a fresh start for the chapter, which was once regarded as a reference point in North Central Nigeria in the early 2000s.
Isah said the reactivation followed months of consultations, planning, and mobilization led by Tade Oshaloto, Public Relations Officer of Kogi State University, Kabba. The effort, he said, drew in registered practitioners, intending members, and students from tertiary institutions across the state.
“The journey to this point took several turns in consultations and meetings, but the interest shown by members old and new has given us the courage to take this decisive step,” Isah said.
He explained that the chapter would focus on aggressive membership drive across the public and private sectors, as well as among graduate and student cadres. According to him, an advocacy campaign has already begun to expand the base of the institute in Kogi State.
To maintain professional relevance, Isah said the chapter would introduce PR clinics and mentoring sessions featuring experts on topical issues and contemporary trends in public relations. He added that the sessions would be structured to serve as a model for other professional bodies.
The committee also plans to establish Public Relations Clubs on campuses to engage students and graduates, provide mentorship, and prepare emerging leaders for the profession.
Isah stated that the committee would engage the state Head of Service and other senior officials to advocate for the change of nomenclature from information officers to information and public relations officers, in line with federal practice. He noted that the change would improve job descriptions, training, and career advancement opportunities for practitioners in the civil service.
“We will also ensure compliance by persuading government, higher institutions, and the private sector to register all practitioners of public relations and communications with the NIPR, not only as a matter of law but as a mark of professional dignity,” he said.
He added that the chapter would execute bespoke programmes, attract partnerships, and maintain visibility to sustain activity and relevance.
Isah said the interim executive would meet in the coming days to constitute committees, finalize a timetable for advocacy visits, complete bank account processes, and consult elders and stakeholders for guidance.
He described the reactivation as both a reset and a restart, expressing confidence that the chapter was set for a renewed era of professional growth and influence in Kogi State.