By Williams Odunze
As Nigerian Institute of Public Relations,NIPR, Imo State Chapter, observes its Week in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Public Relations practitioners have been urged to uphold standard and ethics of the profession in order to project and protect the image of the institute.
In his lecture on “Harnessing the Power of Public Relations for Sustainable Economic Development”, The guest speaker,Dr.John Nnabuihe, , explained that a public relations officer has the power to control, coordinate and build the image of his or her club, organization or institution for sustainable economic development.
Stating that the Public Relations practitioner has the duty to create mutual understanding between people, government, club, organization or institution.
Nnabuihe pointed out that the image builder should equip his or her mind with good education, exposure and intelligence.
He harped that the “public relations officer has the power to build bridges, create mutual understanding, as well as douse distrust among people for sustainable peace and economic development. Academic qualification and certification will help practitioners to tailor their work efficiently”.
The guest speaker expressed sadness that Public Relations practitioners have not been giving due opportunities by government or private organizations to harness their power, saying one of the challenges of PR is that government institutions are not doing very well in helping public relations to add to harnessing social development and economic prosperity of the society.
In his input, another discussant and active member of NIPR, Prince Ford Ozumba, said PR job is about being sensitive to the environment, positing that “public relations does not only entail having academic certificate. But having positive attitude to the society. PR has played critical part in public relations because even Christianity is being sustained and growing exceedingly. Do not say things that hurt people. Your language must be smooth and endearing. In fact, PR is the culture of language. The PR helps government to relate well with the people”. he said.
Making his own contributions, one of the panelists, also active member of the institute,Pastor Onyema Ubaka, added that if a PR person is educationally qualified, characteristically outstanding and upright he or she would always do well. Although he frowned that “the image of Nigeria has been damaged. The PR must be prepared to improve itself to have intact image.
He said that a PR person must possess intellectual ability, be incorruptible, have resounding academic qualification and training”.
The forth discussant, Sir Charles Nwankwo, stressed the need for PR officers to always have quality training to enable them to be adequately equipped to handle the PR job efficiently, advising them to “be able to put issues in perspective to succeed always”.
Earlier, Chairman of NIPR, Imo State Chapter and PRO, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Ever Bezze Nwosu, in an open remarks, said the One Week Program of NIPR is an annual event targeted at keeping the spirit of members/fellows alive as they project the image of their organizations, institutions or government positively to advance good relationship and cooperation for even development.
The, event which took place at De Legend Hotel in Owerri, specially Organised to commemorate the birthday of the founder of the institute,Ivylee,saw many members of the institute in attendance.
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