Delegates at the just-concluded election of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Friday elected Dr. Ikechukwu Neliaku as its new president.
At the Annual General Meeting/Election, Prof. Emmanuel Dan Daura equally emerged as the NIPR ‘s vice-chairman.
The new president took over from Dr. Mukhtar Sirajo, the immediate past president.
Neliaku coasted to victory with 830 votes to defeat his arch-rival, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, of the Lagos chapter, who garnered 375 votes.
Blueprint reports that the AGM/Election which was held in Abuja drew practitioners, members and stakeholders to the nation’s capital city.
In a related development, a University teacher, Dr. Saudat Salah Abdulbaqi, was elected into the 22-member Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
AbdulBaqi, who is of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Ilorin and the immediate past chairman of the Kwara state chapter of the Institute, polled 713 votes to become a member of the Council.
Also, a former national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lanre Issa Onilu, made the five-man federal government-appointed members of the Council.
Other members of the Governing Council included Professor Kate Azuka; Professor Sarah Benjamin; Doctor Adewale Oladipo; Dr. Sule Ya’u Sule; Bashir Adamu Chedi; Adaramola Temitope; Kabir Ali Kobi; Okoh Thelma Chika; Olubunmi Adedoyin and Akin Agbejule.
In his acceptance speech, the new president praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a core professional, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, as the new Minister of Information and national orientation.
He promised to use the mandate to re-brand the nation and serve humanity in the most professional way.
“Only professionals should practise public relations in Nigeria,” he said.
