The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced a leadership transition following the recent elevation of its Chairman, Mrs. Comfort Obot Nwankwo, to the national Council of the Institute.
Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, who previously served as Vice Chairman of the Chapter, has formally assumed the role of Chairman. His leadership will continue until Thursday, August 14, 2025, when new chapter elections are scheduled to take place.
The handover took place on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, during the Chapter’s first monthly meeting after the NIPR Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Uyo in May, where Mrs. Nwankwo and Mr. Olusegun McMedal were elected into the Institute’s governing Council.
In her remarks at the ceremony, Mrs. Nwankwo expressed deep appreciation to members of the Lagos Chapter for their unwavering support throughout her tenure. She pledged to remain committed to the growth of the Chapter and the profession at large.
Dr. Ayetutu, who coincidentally defended his PhD thesis at Babcock University on the same day, described his predecessor as a transformational leader whose efforts significantly strengthened the Chapter’s impact. He urged members to embrace unity and collaboration, emphasizing the need to elevate the visibility and influence of the public relations profession in Lagos State.
In line with the NIPR Chapter Administration By-Law (Amended 2024), Mrs. Nwankwo will continue to serve on the Lagos Chapter Executive Council in an ex-officio capacity, and has also been assigned the role of Internal Auditor.
Dr. Ayetutu brings over 24 years of experience in the Integrated Marketing Communications industry to his new role. He is a Fellow of both the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), and a committed Rotarian. Recognized for his strategic acumen and creativity, he is expected to steer the Lagos Chapter through the next phase of its professional development.
The Lagos Chapter remains one of the most active and influential arms of the NIPR, playing a key role in shaping public relations practice in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
Dr. Samuel Ayetutu is a well-rounded, creative and tactful communication strategist with over 24 years of professional experience in the integrated Marketing Communication industry, having been responsible for series of Public Relations, Advertising and Editorial projects cutting across private-public sector orientations.
He attended Ogun State Polytechnic, (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic), Abeokuta where he completed the National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Mass Communication (1992-1995 and 1995-1997) respectively.
Driven by uncommon quest for knowledge, Samuel Ayetutu proceeded to the Lagos State University, Ojo for a Post-Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Strategic Studies (2002-2003) and returned to the same institution for his Masters Degree in Communication (2007-2009) . In the year 2012 he completed a Prince II course in Project Management, certified by the Association of Project Management Group, United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and also a fellow of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON). On Wednesday 11th June, 2025, he completed a Doctoral Degree in Mass Communication at the prestigious Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo and has been listed among PhD graduating students in the University’s convocation programme slated for July 2025.
His professional career began in September 1999 when he was employed as a Sub-Editor at Daily News (a defunct Newspaper), published by John West Limited. In July 2000, he joined the Lagos State Ministry of Information and strategy as Public Affairs officer.
Over the years, he rose through the ranks as he efficiently manned the state’s apparatus for information management in Ministries, Departments and Agencies he was deployed to which include Lagos State Health Management Board, Ministry of Home Affairs and Culture, Lagos State Sports Council, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Lagos State Lands Bureau as well as Lagos State Public Works Corporation. He was also a part-time lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication, Lagos State Polytechnic where he taught courses in Public Relations, Advertising and News Writing between 2005 and 2009.
In June 2021, he was elected Vice Chairman, NIPR (Lagos State Chapter); a position he holds till date.
