Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has said it is focused on professionalism and conduct of professionals in the practice of public relations.
NIPR national president, Ike Neliaku, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, during the third annual aviation public relations conference with the theme: “Synergizing for Growth: The Role of Public Relations in Advancing Nigeria’s Aviation Hub Agenda”.
Neliaku, who was represented by Rev. Francis Asuk, said the conference provided an opportunity for participants to discuss the communication issues pertinent to the success of the aviation industry in Nigeria.
He reminded the stakeholders that the institute is “charged with the responsibility of regulating the practice of public relations in Nigeria”.
The president said: “Founded in 1963, and chartered in 1990 via the decree, we have been given the responsibility to regulate the practice of public relations across every sector in Nigeria. Of course, that includes aviation.
“The Institute is very much concerned on the issue of professionalism and the conduct of professionals in the practice of public relations and communications management in the industry.
“There was a preponderance of persons who do not have the requisite qualification or have not been licensed or chartered to act as communications managers or public relations practitioners.”
Speaking at the event, chairman of the NIPR Aviation Management Hub, Basil Agboarumi, said the conference was to build an umbrella for practitioners of public relations, and explore issues related to PR practice in the aviation industry.
Agboarumi said, “The essence of this conference is to first come up with a kind of umbrella for practitioners of Public Relations in the Aviation sector of the Nigerian economy.
“So we bring together the regulators, other parastatals, the airlines, the ground handling companies, everybody that is practicing Public Relations in the industry, we have them under our umbrella.
“This conference is organised to come together and discuss how best we can drive Public Relations practice (in the Aviation sector).”
