WorldStage Newsonline– The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has designed a new narrative for the country to address the threat to national cohesion, according to its President, Dr Ike Neliaku.
Speaking at a dinner in Abuja on Thursday to mark the 60th anniversary of NIPR, Neliaku said the narrative would be anchored on eight cardinal points to ensure the country recover its lost glory.
He said the process of designing the new narrative started in 2021, when the Institute was mandated to intervene in addressing the threat to national cohesion which necessitated the convoking of Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security.
“It has been said that our colonial masters came, armed with a programme and deployed the vision, its templates, icons, monuments and story lines with deadly efficiency.
“This sad narrative still holds sway till date.
“Our response is, if Nigeria was designed and programmed to fail, it is now time for Nigerians to wisely reprogramme Nigeria for genuine transformation and development.
“Napoleon Bonaparte said that a leader is a dealer in hope and I tell you here that we cannot achieve anything with violent communication,” Neliaku said.
He highlighted some of the core essentials of Nigeria’s new narrative to include trust and truth, hope, effective and responsible communication, as well as rebuilding relationship and restoring respect for one another.
The president said that citizen reorientation and re-engagement, leadership accountability, deliberate promotion of made in Nigeria products, reputation building and perception management were all parts of essential narrative for a new Nigeria.
Neliaku said that being honest with the citizens and earning their trust was the only way to make progress in any nation.
Prof. Justin Green, President, Global Alliance, said that his organisation would work with NIPR to establish a Public Relations and Leadership Academy in the country in September to support the new narrative for Nigeria.
“Public Relations is the best job in the world; we have the power to influence the world; you have the power to influence the world.
“We are at the right hands of presidents, kings, queens and governments everywhere in the world, no other profession has that access,” he said.
Mr Arik Karani, President, African Public Relations Association (APRA), said the association’s main purpose was to promote excellence in public relations across Africa.
Karani, a seasoned communications expert, said APRA would work with NIPR to achieve its new narrative for the country having recorded many achievements in the course of existence.
“Most of us in Africa have been trying to get to where NIPR is and my visit to Nigeria all the way from Kenya is to learn how NIPR achieved success over the years.
“As your ambassador for Africa, every country I go to now in Africa, I share the success story of what Nigeria has done and what every country in Africa should be able to copy to have an institute of excellence wherever they are.
“As we celebrate today with Nigeria, it is important to remember one thing, we in Nigeria are leading the world; we are leading the world in culture, music, doctors here and abroad and many sectors of the economy, and do not stop now.
“The world is watching what you are doing and we are proud that you are leading the way and as you are leading the way, I implore you to empower other African countries to follow suit,” Karani said.
The institute used the occasion to confer honorary fellowship on some prominent Nigerians.
Among the conferees were former Ministers of Information, Frank Nweke and Labaran Maku.
