By Balarabe Oshiafi
The day was Tuesday, November 21, 2023 and the venue was the luxurious Nicon Luxury Hotel in the heart of Abuja. And the occasion of the conference of the chapter annual general meeting and elections of a new executive.
Members of the prestigious professional body do not always mince words in adjudging the tenure of the outgoing Chairman, Mrs Mariam Sanusi as remarkably progressive and projecting that her successor would fave an uphill task of matching her strides and improving on them.
The theme of this year’s AGM was the culmination of a careful research relative to the socio-economic realities.
The 12th and first female and outgoing Chairman, Alhaja Mariam Sanusi while giving her enumerated her achievements thus, consistently holding meetings and never missing one meeting throughout her four year reign; membership boost of over 2million. “I did a screening of intending members of new”, she said.
“This administration secured a land of over 7000 square meters. We are neighbors to EFCC. After 60years of existing without a piece of land”, Sanusi added
“The chapter under my watch produced the current President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku”, she also listed.
Dr Neliaku dwelt on value reorientation, hard work and consistent cathecism of the citizens especially the youths if justice is to be done to the theme of conference, “reassessing government -citizens engagement in Nigeria for economic development”.
Senator Osita Izunaso, who gave his opening remarks via zoom corroborated the speech of the President of NIPR. He emphasized the need to “cultivate a culture of open dialogue.
Effective communication and engagement to foster relationship between government and citizens
Senator Victor Umeh who came afterwards in the absence of his colleague, Izunaso considered the theme of the NIPR AGM expedient. He urged the professional body to continue to provoke sisterly and progressive engagements between the leaders and the led, arguing that government cannot without first gaining the support, understanding and empathy of the citizens through effective communication.
After goodwill messages from guests and government functionaries, the guest Lecturer, Professor Abubakar Suleiman mounted the rostrum and dissected the subject matter of the conference.
As expected, the lecture was many sided even as it focused on the theme.
Abubakar, for instance, was succinct in telling the Audience that of the three tiers of government, the legislature remains the closest to the person and urged the citizens to establish and sustain rapport and engagement with the arm as such.
The panelists who later further dissected the subject matter were, Senior Special Assistant to the President on international Development Partners, ‘Dapo Oyewole; Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Senate President,Honourable Eseme Eyiboh; Seasoned Broadcast Journalist Chief (Mrs) Moji Makanjuola
Indeed, in the informed opinion of this Writer who is a member of the public relations profession, the FCT Chapter of NIPR really dazzled all of the seat of power with this year’s AGM.
The event would not end until a palpable hobnob and an auspicious inauguration of the new exco. Among the members of the Numero uno chapter new exco is Stanley Ogadigbo, Chairman and Aisha Gambari as ex-officio.
No Comments