Dr. Ike Neliaku has been elected President and Chairman-in-Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). Professor Emmanuel S. Dandaura, an award winning creative writer, festival curator and critic, elected as Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Council.
Neliaku, a consummate Public Relations professional, development administrator, real estate Developer, and researcher, succeeds Malam Mukhtar Sirajo, who completed the maximum two terms on Thursday.
Sirajo was first elected in 2018, but as a result of the restrictions necessitated by Coid-19, his tenure lasted three – instead of two – years. He was reelected in 2021.
NIPR members gathered in Abuja to conduct the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) with the election of council members as a major component. After weeks of intensive campaigns, members elected 17 out of 28 contestants into NIPR Governing Council, which in turn elected the President and Vice President among themselves.
In the general elections, university scholar, Dr. Sule Ya’u Sule got the highest votes of 868 to lead others into the council election.
The candidates in order of their votes
- Ya’u Sule …868
- Ini Ememobong Essien …867
- Ike Neliaku …830
- Bashir Adamu Chedi …815
- Adewale O. Oyekanmi …811
- Okoh Thelma Chika …808
- Kabir Ali Kobi …795
- Temitope Adaramola ….. 788
- Kate A. Omenugha …753
- Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi …713
- Emmanuel S. Dandaura…695
- Benjamin Lwahas …673
- Prince Ford Ozumba …656
- Paulinus E. Nsirim …648
- Olubunmi A. Badejo …630
- Akin Agbejule …612
- Bajulaiye Olanrewaju… 593
- Yakubu Gomos …584
- Aniagwu Charles Ehiedu …488
- Sajoh Ahmed Ibrahim …390
- Nkechi Ali- Balogun …375
- Aliyu Umar Aliyu …314
- Hogan Francis Eyo- Okon …305
- Afolabi Olajuwon …288
- Lamidi Ishola Kamorudeen …288
- Sunday A. Adeyemi-Adejolu …239
- Samuel Toby Oseloka …233
- Princely Kingsley Ngunu …208
Addressing the AGM as a Special Guest of Honour, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris reiterated the resolve of the government to restore the confidence of the citizenry by directly impacting their lives through tangible and credible policies and programmes.
He emphatically assured that the “era of propaganda is over”, stressing that credible information dissemination, devoid of propaganda, would also reduce apathy and engender trust among the citizens, thereby reopening constructive conversation between the government and the people.
“It is this vision that will guide the implementation of President (Bola) Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda”,.
He highlighted the role of NIPR in shaping public appreciation of the fundamental move by the government to reform society and charged the Institute to recommit to the greater good.
“In this age of information saturation, where every click and scroll adds to the noise, the role of public relations has never been more vital.
“We are the storytellers, bridge-builders, and custodians of reputation. In an era where trust can be shattered with a single misleading tweet, our integrity must remain unshakable”, he said.
Earlier, Sirajo welcomed the appointment of key members into positions of government, including that of the Minister of Information.
He said this was an indication that the government recognises the important role that NIPR members play in national development.
He noted that these were difficult times that required difficult decisions, drawing examples from the effects of the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, which, as he said, was well-intentioned but has taken a heavy toll on the livelihood of the average Nigerian.
He said the institute is ready to provide all necessary support through the available channels.
