Apart from enlarging the state chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, through induction of new members, surviving COVID-19 has been one of the greatest achievements of the institute within the year.
The Chairman of the State Chapter of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Mr. Nsemeke Udoakpan stated this today, Monday, 28th December, 2020 at the Image House, during the 2020 end of year Get-together organised for the Institute by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong.
Mr. Nsemeke Udoakpan who was reeling out the scorecard of the State chapter within the year emphasized that, much of what would have been undertaken was distorted by COVID-19 pandemic, which kept the Institute locked down for months, stressing that, even the survival of COVID-19 is a great achievement.
“We lost 3 members during my leadership, we couldn’t hold our “round table”, as regular as we should due to the challenges of pandemic, infact, surviving COVID-19, is a great achievement”, the Chairman said.
He however expressed with delight that, despite the dampening season of the pandemic, the Institute still had cause to be happy as some achievements were recorded by the State chapter of NIPR.
“Within the year, we were able to host the national council of NIPR in the state, organize induction for 15 new members, earned the appointment of our members into elevated offices, including Comrade Ini Ememobong as a Commissioner and member of the State Executive Council and Borono Bassey as the State PDP Publicity Secretary ” Nsemeke Udoakpan added.
He expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong, a member of the state chapter of NIPR for sponsoring the get-together to enable members relax and unwind after such a turbulent year, and expressed the hope that, much achievements will be recorded by the chapter through the instrumentality of the Information Commissioner.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, who was the Special Guest at the occasion, expressed delight that, the state chapter was growing in membership strength, reiterating that, his Ministry, through the Directorate of Public Relations will work out modalities for the induction of more members towards establishing a study centre for NIPR in the state.
He congratulated the state chapter of NIPR for the achievements so far recorded and urged the members and indeed the general public, to keep a positive mindset believing that, it will be better in 2021, reiterating that, success through life battles depended greatly on the mindset of people.
“What makes, some victims of accident with greater degree of injury survive, while those without much harm die, is merely the mindset of the victims, what makes a hospitalized patient which doctors lost hope on, survive while those doctors had faith in die, is probably because of their mindset and attitude towards life. So I urge you all to cultivate positive attitude and mindset”, the Information helmsman stated.
Comrade Ini Ememobong reminded members that, it is the duty of practitioners to shape public perception towards positive acceptance of government as major stakeholders in the development of the state and charged the Institute to join the Ministry of Information and Strategy as it gears towards positive public perception of the present government of Governor Udom Emmanuel.
The event featured the presentation of Goodwill messages by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Inyang Jameson, a council member of NIPR and Director of NDDC, Mr. Obot Udoette, a former Director of Protocol in the State, Mr. Okon Imerh, the Head of Department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo, Prof Nsikan Nkanga, a veteran of NIPR, Chief Asam Usoroh and a PR practitioner, Mrs. Edidiong Inyang.
Present at the occasion were, the outgone Chairman of Ikono LGA, Mr. Itoro Columba, the Director of Public Relations in Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Grace Akpan, a Media Aide to the Governor, Mr. Aniefiok Macaulay and a media aide to the Speaker, Mr. Darlington Udobong.
Others were: the Zonal Secretary of NUJ, Comrade Bassey Eyo, the immediate past Chapter Chairman of NIPR, Mrs. Elsie Udofia, a former NUJ Chairman, Mr. Israel Umoh and executive members of the state chapter of NIPR, among others.
