NIPR seeks collaboration with NCC on national integration

*The Nigerian Communications Commission assures the telecoms sector regulator will partner with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations on particularly ‘impressive, seminal and laudable project’ in the context of the Institute’s proposed summit in Abuja

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The elusive national integration has become a worrisome subject to the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), for which it has mapped out a strategy for a multi-ethnic and multi-sectoral strategy to be consummated through a National Integration Summit slated for August 2022.

Following a nationwide consultation with different interest groups, a four-man Council team of the institute, led by Dr. Ike Neliaku on behalf of President of the Institute, Mukhtar Sirajo, recently visited the Head Office of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to intimate Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Commission, with the steps already taken to ensure that the unique summit comes to fruition.

Dr. Ike Neliaku of NIPR (l) with Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC

ConsumerConnect reports Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Monday, July 4 stated Dr. Neliaku said the key objective of the visit was to see how the Institute would  leverage communication to address security concerns, enhance peace building, and facilitate national integration in Nigeria.

Describing the NCC as one of the pillars of Nigeria’s national integration efforts, he said the Institute believes the Commission would partner in the successful hosting of the “Citizens Summit on National Integration, Peace and Security (CSNIPS)”, holding August 23-24, 2022, in Abuja, FCT.

The Commission also disclosed that in the processes leading to the summit, Neliaku said the Institute had organised zonal dialogue sessions with leaders of thought, representing ethnic and institutional interests, and had met with a diverse group of state and non-state actors as a way of rallying all stakeholders to support the project and participate in the implementation of its resolutions.

“The central objective of this summit is to emplace a new way of re-inventing citizenship, he said, while emphasising that the proposed summit fits into NIPR’s doctrinal professional practice principles to build and maintain image, relationship, peace and harmony.

The leader of the visiting team as well applauded the NCC under Danbatta’s leadership, for exceptionally upholding the legal prescriptions of the Institute in appointing professionals in the management of its public relations activities, which also aligns with professional principles and practice of public relations as prescribed in the NIPR Charter. “This explains why the NIPR is always enthusiastic in partnering with NCC whenever the opportunity presents itself, and we look forward to NCC’s support towards successful hosting of the Summit,” Dr. Neliaku stated.

Muoka, who received the team on behalf of Prof. Danbatta, said the purpose of the visit was striking to the disposition of the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, who described as one that admires every effort that will contribute to national integration in the West African country.

The NCC Director of Public Affairs  assured that the Commission would certainly partner with the NIPR in this particularly “impressive, seminal and laudable project” in the context of the proposed Summit.

Muoka said the EVC/CEO of NCC, holds NIPR in high esteem, “which is the reason he cherished the visit and asked me to receive you in his stead. You can rest assured that he will be positive to this request for collaboration for the good of the nation.”

The NCC spokesman said he was particularly delighted that NIPR, to which he belongs, would be the first that he was receiving on resumption as the Director of Public Affairs at the Commission.

He informed the Council delegation comprising Neliaku, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman (Retd), Lady Chinenye Ihuoma and Ohaeri Osondu, all Fellows and Council Members of NIPR, that the Commission would continue to collaborate with the NIPR for direction in best practices in corporate relations.