By Balarabe Oshiafi
In keeping with his avowal to shore up Nigeria’s image and reputation, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku has reached a strategy of collaboration with the National Orientation Agency ( NOA)
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Agency in Abuja, Neliaku said, “We have realized that in the course of nation-building, narratives are critical. If you don’t design your narratives, the opposition will design narratives and impose such on you. We now have a situation where everybody talks from his own perspective, which has encouraged prevalence of violent communication. We must find a way to deconstruct the concept of violent communication and reconstruct the kind of communication that is meant for development”,
In a news release signed by NIPR’s Director of Public Relations, Stanley Ogadigo and made available to Expressday, Dr Neliaku further stated that NIPR has deliberately designed viable programmes to reclaim the nation’s dwindling reputation, assuring that the Institute is ready to partner with relevant organizations to create a new narrative for Nigeria.
The NIPR boss, who sought the partnership of NOA in the forthcoming maiden edition of the National Spokespersons Summit, pointed out that the programme is part of strategies towards building the capacity of spokespersons that will emplace the culture of development communication.
Dr. Neliaku emphasized that the REBIRTH initiative of the Institute is aimed at value re-orientation that would entrench deep sense of patriotism among Nigerians, saying that the acronym, REBIRTH, stands for Reinventing the Essence, Beauty, Integrity, Resourcefulness, Tradition and Heritage of Nigeria.
On his part, the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu while expressing gratitude to the delegation described NOA as a public relations organization that can achieve a lot for the country in partnership with the NIPR.
He said NIPR is well positioned to be the first body NOA could rely on in delivering its mandate.
“We would ensure that we work together on all of the issues, not as in someone leading and another following, but we will do an assessment, put everything on the table, harmonize the ones we need to harmonize and roll out together and deliver for the country”, he assured.
Mr. Issa-Onilu emphasized that the issue of reputation is very germane to the policies and programmes of the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, noting that nothing can be achieved without genuine attitudinal change.
