Public Relations practitioners have been urged to play active roles in Nigeria’s political process and governance through strategic policy formulation and decision-making.
The call was made on Thursday July 16, 2026 at an event organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rivers State Chapter, to commemorate the 2026 World Public Relations Day in Port Harcourt.
Delivering the keynote address, a Professor of Politics and Governance at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Kenneth Nweke, stressed the need to reposition the Public Relations profession beyond protocol and event management.
Professor Nweke noted that the profession is a critical tool for effective governance, policy communication, and public engagement.
“Organisations should integrate public relations into executive leadership and strategic decision making rather than limiting the profession to protocol, publicity, or event management.
Public relations executives should participate actively in policy formulation, organisational planning, risk assessment, and crisis management. Investment in professional development should become a priority for everything.
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analysis, cyber security, digital marketing, and multimedia communication requires practitioners to update their knowledge and skills continuously” he said.
Professor Nweke further encouraged young professionals who are passionate about Public Relations to be intentional about communicating effectively to members of the public. He however called on the government to engage only Public Relations professionals who can communicate effectively to members of the public.
“If we must progress significantly, then government has to engage professionals who mean well for members of the public.
And again, the government has to be honest and shun corruption while dealing with the public relations practitioners”.
Meanwhile in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Rivers State Chapter, Francis Asuk, emphasised the critical role of strategic Public Relations in advancing national development, promoting citizen engagement and strengthening institutional trust in Nigeria.
According to him, Public Relations has evolved beyond publicity into a strategic management function that fosters trust, shapes public perception, strengthens institutions and builds mutually beneficial relationships between organisations and their stakeholders.
“For a developing economy like Nigeria, strategic Public Relations is no longer optional but indispensable. Effective communication is central to promoting transparency, encouraging citizen participation, strengthening democratic governance, and mobilising collective action towards national and community development,” he stated.
Asuk noted that the theme, “Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations” resonates strongly with the realities of Rivers State and the Niger Delta, where strategic stakeholder engagement remains essential for sustaining peace, promoting investment, supporting development initiatives and managing the diverse interests of communities, government and the private sector.
The NIPR Rivers Chairman further called on individuals currently practising Public Relations without registration with the Institute to regularise their status in compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Act.
“The practice of Public Relations in Nigeria is regulated by law. We therefore urge all unregistered practitioners to desist from illegal practice and embrace professional certification and registration with the Institute. This is essential to safeguarding the integrity, credibility, and ethical standards of the profession,” he said.
Asuk reaffirmed the commitment of the Rivers State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations to promoting ethical and professional standards through advocacy, continuous professional development, public enlightenment and stakeholder engagement aimed at improving the quality of public relations practice across the state and the Niger Delta region.
He further appealed to governments at all levels, corporate organisations, public institutions, development partners and businesses to engage only registered members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations in the management of their communication, stakeholder relations and reputation management activities.
“As strategic communication assumes greater relevance in today’s world, it is imperative that organisations entrust this critical responsibility to qualified and licensed professionals who are bound by the ethical standards and code of conduct of the Institute,” he added.
The event also featured a discussion session where a panel of Public Relations professionals drowned from various sectors of the society including education, journalism, and the corporate sector spoke extensively on the theme, “The Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations “.