The Abia State Chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has held its monthly meeting for the month of August, 2024.
The meeting, which held on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at Roots Restaurant, Government Station Layout, Umuahia, featured among other key items, a lecture on ‘The Role of Public Relations/Information Officers in Government Establishments’ delivered by a respected Public Relations veteran, Sir O. J. Bob Amanze.
The lecture gave a detailed exposition of the imperatives, challenges and multiple benefits of effective public relations management in government establishments and corporate organizations generally, identifying crucial gaps that could escalate to serious crisis, and offering pragmatic solutions in professional contexts.
Sir Bob Amanze, who is the author of two seminal books, ‘A Handbook on Public Administration’ and ‘The Search for Leadership: The Nigerian Perspective’, used the forum to further emphasize the need for governments at various levels to prioritize public relations functions in their establishments as part of the essential requirements for promoting good governance.
In their various responses after the lecture, members of the Institute and others who came to be part of the lecture commended the lecturer for his deep insights and applauded the initiative by the Abia Chapter leadership. It was strongly suggested that such a knowledge sharing platform be expanded for the benefit of wider audiences across the State.
The State Chairman, Deacon Felix Olunkwa, in his remarks, thanked Sir Bob Amanze and appreciated everyone who took part in the lecture. He assured that the initiative would be sustained and that efforts were in progress towards ensuring full implementation of the national policies of the Institute in Abia State, particularly on the issue of ending quackery and upholding professionalism in public relations practice.
The meeting also featured presentation of Certificates of Return to members of the State Executive Council elected during the last Annual General Meeting/Elections.
