Uyo – The Akwa Ibom Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has honoured the state Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, with an Award of Excellence in Service and Professionalism.
The chapter presented the award and a portrait to the deputy governor at its 2016 Annual Dinner and Award Night held on Thursday in Uyo.
Other awardees were: Prof. Des Wilson of the Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo and Mr Udeme Ufot of the Lagos-based SO & U advertising outfit.
Also honoured by the institute was: the Proprietor, Planet FM radio, the first private radio station in Akwa Ibom, Mr Tony Afia,
Speaking at the occasion, the NIPR National President, Dr Rotimi Oladele, congratulated the awardees on the honour bestowed on them by the Akwa Ibom chapter of the institute.
Oladele, who was represented the Chairman, Board of Fellows of the institute, Mr Frank Tamuno-Gogo, also thanked the state government for giving recognition to Public Relations practitioners in the state.
He announced that the NIPR national body would make the state governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, the patron of the state chapter on an occasion later in the year.
In her address, the State Chairman of the NIPR, Mrs Elsie Udofia, called on government agencies and organisations in the state to engage members of NIPR only to perform public relations duties.
“It is only PR professionals that can truly drive professional excellence. We help you to build reputation and brands,’’ Udofia said.
Udofia said that the state chapter was committed to championing the cause of professionalism in public relations practice and urged all practitioners to regularise their membership.
Responding on behalf of the awardees, Mr Udeme Ufot of SO & U Advertising Company, called on all tiers of government to involve marketing communications experts in projects execution.
Ufot decried that often times, peoples’ feelings, which had to do with marketing communications, had been missing in projects conception and execution in the country.
He commended the Akwa Ibom Government for having a public relations expert as a deputy governor and expressed the hope that human elements would always be considered in projections execution in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the night also witnessed the presentation of the 3rd O.W. Udoh’s Memorial Lecture titled:
“Re-strategising Public Relations in Government and Corporate Organisations’’.
The Lecturer, Dr Nsikan Nkana of the Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo, called on government and corporate organisations to apply public relations principles in solving problems.
Nkana advised that proactive measures, involvement of stakeholders, calm, analytical and courteous approaches to issues were better principles than propaganda and blame game. (NAN)
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