The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, has urged practitioners to strengthen mentorship, professional development and institutional relationships.
Neliaku made the call on Saturday in Kaduna at the maiden Bashir Adamu Chedi Annual Memorial Lecture and Annual General Meeting of the NIPR Kaduna State Chapter.
He spoke through the institute’s Vice President, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, who represented him at the event.
Neliaku said the occasion provided an opportunity for the chapter to conduct its statutory business while honouring the memory of late Bashir Chedi.
He described Chedi as more than a Fellow of the institute, saying he was a colleague, brother and trusted source of counsel and support.
According to him, Chedi’s outstanding quality was his consultative approach to leadership and decision-making.
“Bashir understood that leadership is not about having the loudest voice; sometimes leadership is about listening and bringing people together,” Neliaku said.
He said Chedi’s contribution to the NIPR Governing Council was reflected not only in positions held, but in the quality of conversations he facilitated.
Neliaku commended the Kaduna Chapter for establishing the memorial lecture, describing it as an appropriate way to immortalise Chedi’s intellectual, professional and institutional contributions.
He announced that the NIPR would fulfil its pledge of N2 million support to Chedi’s family, with payment expected by Monday before 1 p.m.
The NIPR president said the institute was committed to ensuring that professional excellence was recognised while practitioners were still alive.
He announced plans to launch the Public Relations Innovation and Communication Excellence Awards on Dec. 7, as part of efforts to institutionalise recognition.
Neliaku said the awards would honour individuals and organisations contributing meaningfully to reputation management and communication in Nigeria.
He said NIPR had already recognised more than 100 professionals who contributed to the growth of the profession during its Diamond Anniversary.
He also commended the Kaduna Chapter for choosing mentorship as a major focus, saying professions could only grow when experienced practitioners invested in younger professionals.
Neliaku said the institute’s Professional Standards Guide and Young Professionals Hub had attracted interest from South African practitioners seeking to learn from Nigeria’s initiatives.
He said African public relations practitioners must invest in younger professionals, particularly given the continent’s youthful population.
The NIPR president commended Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris for promoting strategic government communication, citizen engagement and public trust.
He said the ministry’s initiatives demonstrated that information management was no longer merely an administrative function, but an important instrument of governance.
He particularly highlighted the National Values Charter and the establishment of the UNESCO Category 2 International Media and Information Literacy Institute in Abuja.
He pledged the institute’s continued collaboration with the ministry in strengthening professional communication and public engagement.
The NIPR leader commended the Kaduna Chapter’s outgoing executive for successfully hosting the institute’s national NIPR Week and Annual General Meeting.
He charged the incoming executive to consolidate existing achievements, strengthen professional development and attract more young practitioners into the institute.
Neliaku urged the new leadership to deepen relationships with government, businesses, academia and wider society to position Kaduna as a centre of professional excellence.
He expressed concern over low registration from Kaduna practitioners for the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) Abuja 2026.
According to him, only three practitioners from the chapter had registered, excluding council members whose participation was by virtue of their positions.
He urged members to register for the forum, describing it as an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its public relations expertise to the world.
Neliaku said the forum would enable Nigerian practitioners to contribute to the future direction of public relations in Africa and globally.
He said the institute’s upcoming World Public Relations Forum would provide an avenue for practitioners across the continent to deepen collaboration and exchange knowledge.
Earlier, Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna said his administration remained committed to partnering with professional bodies to promote strategic governance and effective leadership.
The governor, represented by the Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, described mentorship as a catalyst for institutional growth and leadership development.
Sani commended the NIPR Kaduna Chapter for establishing the annual memorial lecture in honour of Chedi.
Maiyaki said Information Minister Mohammed Idris had demonstrated exemplary mentorship by guiding several communication professionals into leadership positions.
He challenged society to celebrate accomplished professionals while alive rather than waiting until their death before recognising their contributions.
The commissioner said Chedi’s legacy demonstrated the importance of selfless service and mentoring younger generations.
He expressed confidence that the memorial lecture would provide a sustained platform for knowledge transfer, professional excellence and leadership development.