NIMN Honours NIPR President, Chioma Afe and 27 Others with Fellowship Awards

• Jun 20, 2026

Reciprocal Recognition Deepens Strategic Partnership Between Marketing and Public Relations Institutes

The Nigerian Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) has conferred its prestigious Fellowship status on the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, and Chioma Afe, Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, alongside 27 other distinguished professionals in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the growth and advancement of the marketing profession in Nigeria.

The induction ceremony took place during the Fellowship Dinner, one of the highlights of the ongoing Annual Marketing Conference in Port Harcourt, where industry leaders, academics, and professionals gathered to celebrate excellence and leadership within the marketing ecosystem.

Speaking on the significance of the honour, NIMN acknowledged the awardees' remarkable achievements, leadership contributions, and commitment to professional development across their respective fields.

Dr. Neliaku, a highly respected public relations practitioner, development communication expert, and governance leader, brings more than 35 years of experience spanning public service, academia, civil society, and the private sector. Widely regarded as a champion of professionalism and sustainable development, he was elected as the 15th President and Chairman of Council of the NIPR in August 2023 and was re-elected in May 2025.

His elevation to the Fellowship cadre of NIMN underscores the growing recognition of the critical intersection between marketing, public relations, reputation management, and stakeholder engagement in today's dynamic business environment.

Also honoured was Chioma Afe, an accomplished strategic communications executive and business leader with over 25 years of experience in designing and executing high-impact communication strategies that drive business growth, strengthen brand reputation, and enhance organizational performance.

Currently serving as Director of External Affairs and Social Performance at Seplat Energy, Afe has built an impressive career across multiple sectors. Before joining Seplat, she served as Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Access Bank Group. She previously held the position of Divisional Head of Communications at Diamond Bank Plc and has worked with leading multinational brands including Multichoice Nigeria (DStv), Cadbury Mondelez, Airtel Nigeria, Coca-Cola Nigeria, and British American Tobacco.

Her induction reflects NIMN's recognition of communications professionals who have successfully leveraged strategic engagement and brand management to create lasting business impact.

The conferment of Fellowship on Dr. Neliaku is particularly significant as it comes only weeks after the NIPR granted equivalent membership status to the President of NIMN, Dr. Bolajoko Bayo-Ajayi, and the Institute's immediate past President, Mr. Idorenyen Enang.

The reciprocal recognition further strengthens the longstanding relationship between both professional bodies and reinforces the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed to foster collaboration, promote joint membership opportunities, and advance professional standards across the marketing and public relations sectors.

Industry observers view the exchange of honours as a reflection of the growing synergy between marketing and public relations professions, especially at a time when reputation, trust, stakeholder engagement, and consumer connection have become central to organizational success.

With the induction of the latest Fellows, the total number of professionals formally admitted into various cadres of the Institute during the conference has risen to 169. This follows the induction of associate members and full members on the previous day, underscoring NIMN's commitment to expanding its professional community and strengthening the capacity of marketing practitioners across the country.

The Fellowship awards ceremony served not only as a celebration of individual excellence but also as a reaffirmation of NIMN's commitment to recognizing professionals whose work continues to shape the future of marketing, communications, and corporate leadership in Nigeria.