In anticipation of the inaugural Nigeria Public Relations Week, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of Council, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has intensified discussions regarding the crucial role of Public Relations (PR) in fostering the economic growth of the country. Dr. Neliaku emphasizes that nations often fall short of achieving their visions, even with sound policies in place, due to neglecting perception and reputation management. He highlights the detrimental impact of prioritizing other areas over PR, which ultimately fails to garner the necessary support for vital programs.
During a live broadcast on TV News, the President conveyed this stance, lamenting the relegation of PR to the sidelines. He underscored the pivotal role of Public Relations in invigorating the nation’s economy through effective perception building and reputation management strategies.
Dr. Neliaku highlighted that nations, organizations, and individuals rise and fall based on their reputation capital, making PR indispensable in today’s world. He criticized the misconception that only economists can fix economic issues, stressing the interconnectedness of the economy with civil society, politics, and public sentiment towards government policies and programs.
“The mistake that leaders make is to think that only economists can fix the economy of nations and I think it is where they have filled woefully, because the principle of economic political development will tell you that if you exclude the economy from the civil society, you will fail; if you exclude the economy from the polity, you will fail; if you exclude the economy from relationships and the way people feel about policies and programs of government, not just governance, it will be a disaster”.
According to the NIPR President, the upcoming Nigeria Public Relations Week, slated from the 22nd to 26th in Abeokuta, presents yet another avenue for the exchange of insights and perspectives. This event will bring together a cadre of esteemed professionals alongside government officials to cultivate a socio-economic and political environment conducive to the development of various facets of the nation’s existence.
“We are bringing PR to the center stage of nation building every year beginning from this year, we take a subject matter that is so critical to the nation and then we bring in experts to discuss it. This year in Abeokuta, we are looking at the issue of the economy, leveraging PR functions as a tool for transformation and empowerment of the economy. We have brought in the best minds in the economy, PR and nation building together, to interface.
The upcoming Nigeria Public Relations Week, scheduled from the 22nd to the 26th in Abeokuta, presents a platform for exchanging ideas between PR professionals and the government to foster socio-economic and political development. Dr. Neliaku emphasized that the event aims to bring PR to the forefront of nation-building efforts, with this year’s focus on leveraging PR as a catalyst for economic transformation and empowerment. The event will gather over 2,000 experts in the fields of economy, PR, and nation-building to discuss strategies for effectively communicating government policies and initiatives to the public.
With the theme “Leveraging PR as a critical tool for Nigeria’s Economic and Reputation Renaissance,” the forthcoming Nigeria Public Relations Week is poised to be the largest PR gathering. Anticipated to draw top industry professionals and government officials, the event will focus on deliberating on issues pertinent to national development. Furthermore, it will explore how PR can facilitate the much-needed transformation required for the country’s progress.
