The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has reiterated its determination to rid the profession of quacks that are portraying the image of the profession in bad lights.
President of NIPR, Malam Muktar Zubairu Surajo, stated this Tuesday, when he led a delegation of public relations professionals on a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai at the Army headquarters, Abuja.
He said, “We are here to remind you about the law establishing NIPR. We are trying to cleanse the profession of quackery. We would visit the next Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and appeal to him to set up a tribunal that will deal with the issue, and we are soliciting the support of the Nigerian Army to avail us its personnel as we go on this compliance visit”.
Speaking further, he said the visit was to also to seek cooperation of the Army in the forthcoming Reputation Summit which is aimed at fostering national unity.
“We intend to gather Nigerians from different backgrounds; religious and ethnic, under one roof to sit as a people to discuss the problems confronting us as a nation.
“We are passionate about the cohesion of Nigeria. NIPR is not happy that the fabrics that hold us together are being strained.”
While commending the Nigerian Army for the successes it recorded in the fight against Boko Haram, he also lauded the personnel for upholding high standard in the PR profession by always complying with NIPR Act through the appointment of professionals as spokespersons and directors of army public relations and always sending personnel for workshops and training at the NIPR.
In his response, Buratai said PR has helped the Army to discover the missing link between the general public and the organisation.
“Be rest assured that we would collaborate with you in the area of your forthcoming proramme. This visit will be a turning point in the relationship between the Army and NIPR,” he said.
Those on the entourage of the NIPR president incudes the vice president of NIPR Wale Adeniyi, the Chairman and Publisher of Blueprint Newspapers, Mohamed Idris and former defence spokesperson Maj. Gen. Christopher Olukolade (retd) among others.
