The President and Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku has challenged members of the institute to raise the bar in professionalism in their quest to provide quality reputation building and management service in the country.

Dr. Neliaku said the profession of public relations encourages discipline, professional and ethical conduct among all its members, adding that public relations practice in the country is guided by its code of practice.

According to the statement issued in Lafia and signed by the NIPR Media Assistant Malam  Shuaibu Usman said the President of NIPR gave the charge during  induction ceremony of some postgraduate students of communication which coincided with the 5th International Conference on Communication and Development of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, thursday

He said ‘the Institute provides opportunity for young professionals to thrive in their chosen career’, noting that the Institute was ready to continue to support young people by earning membership of the organisation.

He charged practitioners who were currently practising without being licensed by the Institute to obtain their licences as any act of quackery would not be tolerated by the body, insisting that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations would commit more to the observance of high standards of professional and ethical practice.

In his address, Governor Abdullahi Sule represented by his Director-General, Strategic Communication and Events Management, Yakubu Lamai said the partnership of the state government with the Institute in siting the first NIPR Finishing School in Nigeria was strategic in building the image of the state for more investment owing to its naturally rich endowments, security and proximity to the nation’s capital.

While declaring the event open, Governor Sule charged the participants to consciously utilise the knowledge gained to promote the state, drive improved climate change awareness to cushion its negative impacts.

Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Modibbo, who gave a welcome address, assured the participants at the conference of a memorable intellectual engagement, emphasising that climate change had negatively impacted on the world economy which called for international attention and collaboration to address.

In their goodwill messages, Directors-General of Nigeria Television Authority, Voice of Nigeria, Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria and the representative of the United Nations Information Centre, called for public-private partnership to foster resilience and commitment to ending the challenges and to enhance the capacity of communication managers.

They tasked stakeholders on robust awareness creation, financial inclusion for women and youth in climate smart technology to reduce vulnerability.

In a vote of thanks, Registrar of the University, Bala Ahmed II, appreciated the attendees for their sacrifice and readiness to contribute towards the inclusive provision of solutions to climate change issues in Nigeria and the African continent.

The theme of the two-day International Conference was Communication, Climate Change and Resilience in Africa which had in attendance the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Nasarawa State Chapter, Compt. Joseph Attah Rtd represented by his Vice, Mukhtar Wakeel among others.