By Balarabe Oshiafi, Abuja
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has been commended by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, for mustering the moral strength to organize the epoch-making Citizens Summit for National Integration, Peace and Security.
The Minister pointed out that the initiative could not have come at a better time in the Country’s quest to remain indivisible and to restore her respect in the comity of nations.
Giving his address at the International Conference Centre, Abuja venue of the Summit, the Minister said, “I must commend NIPR for organizing this conference on national integration. It is timely and I want to welcome you all to FCT. This city does not care about creed, tribe, religion or colour. FCT symbolizes our oneness and unity”.
The Minister assured NIPR and it’s partners of the cooperation and support of the FCT administration in optimising the gains of the Summit.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of NIPR Mallam Muktar Zubair Surajo posited that the Summit is a product of wide consultation borne out of the need to rescue Nigeria from the maladies of insecurity, unemployment failure of leadership to inspire patriotic fervour in the Citizenry.
“As a professional and patriotic body part of whose mandate and area of expertise is relationship building and mending, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations understands the enormous task incumbent on it in playing strategic roles in achieving national development through objective scanning of the environment, identifying challenges and constructively engaging all relevant stakeholders to try to reverse this ugly trend”, the NIPR President declared.
Several dignitaries from various walks of life graced the occasion. The former Governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife was one of them. While praising NIPR for organizing the Summit, he charged both the leadership as well as followership to get conscientious and godly.
“Under the circumstance , I’d like to urge us all to use our conscience in whatever we are doing, and to bring Nigeria before God. I believe a new Nigeria is possible”, the former Governor said.
NIPR, working with it’s parters intends to collate derivatives from syndicates sessions of the Summit and produce feasible documents it intends to circulate with a view to making Nigeria a better place.
