The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has cautioned Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) against appointing unqualified individuals as information officers and spokespersons.
The institute warned of the severe consequences of practicing public relations without certification, raising concerns about the growing number of unqualified individuals infiltrating the profession.
The national president of the institute, Dr. Ike Neliaku, issued the warning during the induction ceremony of 421 new members and officers of the Federal Ministry of Information in Abuja.
According to him, any public relations professional caught practicing without certification risks prosecution and imprisonment.
He said, “People are beginning to appreciate the practice of public relations as a solution-oriented profession.
“We have been advocating for those who are qualified to come forward and become chartered. According to the law of the federation, you are a quack if you are not certified by the institute.
“The law of the institute provides for criminal prosecution for individuals practicing public relations without certification. No one wants to be an ex-convict because, if prosecuted, the penalty could involve a fine, imprisonment, or both.
“The critical issue is that once convicted, you carry the stigma of being an ex-convict. It is as serious as that.”
Earlier, the minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris praised the institute, noting that the federal government recognizes its role in effective communication for governance.
Represented by the director of public relations and protocol in the ministry, Dr.Suleiman Haruna, Mohammed expressed concern about the misuse of digital platforms to spread fake news and misinformation.
He said, “We operate in a dynamic environment where the speed and scale of information dissemination present both challenges and opportunities.
“The digital age has empowered citizens with access to information but has also led to the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.
“As professionals, you now bear the critical responsibility of ensuring that truth prevails over falsehood and that facts triumph over fiction.
“To the newly inducted members, I urge you to uphold the values of the NIPR and serve as ambassadors of truth, integrity, and excellence in your roles.
Among the newly inducted NIPR members was the pioneer Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation Limited, Mrs. Emmanuel Arukwe, who was honored as an honorary fellow of the institute.
When asked about her foundation’s impact on Nigerians, Arukwe told The LEADERSHIP that it has improved countless lives, including training over 500,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“The NNPC Foundation has made significant contributions, particularly in education. For instance, we initiated an NYSC program where we trained over 500,000 corps members on business management.
“We are also collaborating with partners to ensure corps members run businesses at discounted rates.
“Additionally, we have ventured into areas such as Liquefied Natural Gas, working to introduce Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a viable energy option. As an impactful organization, we have achieved much in humanitarian endeavors,” she stated.
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