From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) have been charged to redouble their efforts to protect the image and integrity of the Public Relations profession in the country.

The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the charge on Tuesday when a delegation from the state chapter of the Institute paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo, who expressed concern at the alarming rate the Public Relations profession was being buffeted by the activities of quacks, said the NIPR as a professional body was not doing enough to checkmate the issue of quackery and safeguard the integrity of the profession.

He maintained that the activities of charlatans who parade themselves as PR people were ubiquitous on the Social Media space and has become quite worrisome for those who appreciate the importance of the profession.

While expressing readiness to support the Institute, Ewhrudjakpo, however called on the NIPR to take necessary steps to put an end to the caricature being made of an otherwise noble profession.

Responding to their demand for a suitable location to plant 60 trees in the state to mark the 60th anniversary of the NIPR, the Deputy Governor directed the State Ministry of Environment to liaise with the leadership of the NIPR to allocate a land space for the planting exercise.

“The Public Relations profession is buffeted by a lot of quacks because the true professionals are not doing enough. You see a lot of charlatans on Social Media masquerading as PR people. They do the PR job they claim to be doing in caricature ways.

‘Let us do more for the PR profession, now that the scheme of service has given a new nomenclature to public relations officers as “information and public relations officers.”

In his remarks, the Chairman of NIPR, Bayelsa State Chapter, Dr. Ebiwari Wariowei, explained that the reason for the visit was to invite the Deputy Governor to the tree planting event, as part of the activities marking the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of NIPR in Nigeria.

Wariowei, who commended Senator Ewhrudjakpo for his unrelenting support to the Governor, appealed to the State Government to support the Institute’s effort towards building a centre for the training and retraining of PR and information practitioners in the state.

He also requested for a suitable land space for the planting of 60 trees to enhance the beauty of the Yenagoa City as well as promote biodiversity and the green revolution programme in the state.

Also, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Africa, Toru Orua, Prof. Barclays Ayakoromo and the Amananaowei of Sabagreia, His Royal Highness, Sir Boukumo Orukari, acknowledged the love of the Deputy Governor for public relations.

They also acknowledged the the support and contributions of the pioneer civilian governor of the state, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha in planting NIPR in Bayelsa, and appealed to the present administration to recognize the Institute as a worthy partner for the development of the state.

The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of two books, “Public Relations: The Most Excellent Profession” and “The Slum Boy King”, by the author, His Royal Highness, Sir Boukumo Orukari, to the Deputy Governor.