The Special Adviser on Public Communications to the Member representing Yagba East/West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, RT. Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide, Bashiru Abdul Mohammed (BAM), ANIPR, on Wednesday joined the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Muhammed Ali, and other communication professionals at the August General Meeting and the Professional Platform of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), FCT Chapter, in Abuja.
The gathering brought together senior communication professionals and practitioners from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to deliberate on Nigeria’s image, strategic communication and the role of public relations in national development.
The event also had in attendance the President of the NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, and Dr. Chris Isiguzo, MFR, MNIPR, President of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ) and Vice President of the World Journalists Federation (WJF), who served as guest speaker.
Isiguzo spoke on the theme, “Reclaiming Nigeria’s Sovereign Narrative: Developing a PR Strategy to Rebuild the Nation’s Brand Identity.”
His presentation focused on the need for a coordinated and strategic public relations approach to Nigeria’s national narrative, particularly in projecting the country’s identity, achievements and interests to both domestic and international audiences.
The professional platform also featured discussions on nation-building and the responsibilities of communication practitioners in shaping public discourse, strengthening institutional credibility and promoting ethical standards in the profession.
A major focus of the meeting was the council’s preparations for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), scheduled to hold in Abuja in November.
Speaking on the preparations, Bashiru, who is also a member of the Stakeholders Relations Committee of the NIPR FCT Chapter, stressed the need for collective action and effective collaboration among members and stakeholders to ensure the success of the global forum.
He noted that the WPRF would provide an important platform to showcase Nigeria’s professional public relations practice and engage practitioners from across the world, urging members to work together towards delivering a successful and impactful event.
The international forum is expected to attract public relations practitioners, communication experts and other stakeholders from Nigeria and across the world, providing a platform for discussions on emerging trends in public relations and strategic communication.
The NIPR leadership also charged members to uphold professionalism and ethical standards in the discharge of their responsibilities, stressing the importance of credible and responsible communication in an increasingly interconnected information environment.
The meeting ended with further deliberations on issues affecting the institute, the profession and the role of public relations practitioners in advancing national development.
