By DOMINIC UMOH

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has formally inducted Dr. Udeme Nana, a Media Scholar as a Fellow of the Institute, the highest professional rank in public relations practice in Nigeria.

The ceremony, whichh took place during the NIPR Week in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, drew over 1,200 public relations professionals from across the country.

At the pre-induction Conclave of the Fellows, the Fellows were charged to realize that the status of Fellow of the Institute was the highest grade a Member could attain in the profession and urged the new Fellows to exhibit excellence in their attitude, manners, skills and business etiquette.

The President and Chairman of Council, Dr Ike Neliaku, admonished the new Fellows to protect the very high standards of the profession. He stated: ?Standards must not go down. You have to sustain the practice in line with the motto of the professional body ? professionalism and excellence.?

A past President of the Institute, Mazi Mike Okereke, and a former long serving Registrar of the Institute, Mr Adekunle Salu in their separate speeches urged the new Fellows to imbibe the culture of continuous learning to enable them stay on top of the game stating that, ?Fellows are fountains of knowledge in the profession.?

Both veterans commended the Council of the Institute for raising the bar in recruitment into that cadre of Membership.

Other veteran Fellows who addressed the new Fellows included Dr Nkechi Alli Balogun, Chief Tamuno Dagogo and Dr Andee Iheme, Chairman of the Fellowship Award Committee.

Responding to questions from journalists after the induction, Dr. Nana, a scholar and public relations strategist who served as a Media Adviser to two former Governors in Akwa Ibom State, described public relations as a discipline demanding intellectual rigour and time tested ethical practices.

He stressed that public relations is not a casual calling, rather it requires critical thinking, research and evaluation skills, and a firm grasp of current issues where Practitioners must know their onions, stay current, and think through issues fast before addressing emerging challenges.

Dr. Nana disclosed that their elevation followed a rigorous screening process, which included writing projects and presentations based on their contributions In the field of public relations. ?We passed through a deliberate and planned process and were found fit?.

Talking about my journey in this profession, I started from the Graduate cadre in 1992 after completion of NYSC, became an Associate in 1994 and Full Member in 2000, and now a Fellow in 2025 after 33 years in the profession,?

He pledged to use his experience to mentor younger professionals and students, adding that his involvement in academics would continue to impact the next generation of PR professionals within and outside Nigeria.

?Public relations has a body of knowledge and a code of ethics, it has an approved curriculum, one must be grounded in research and guided by PR principles to succeed in the profession,? he said.

On the rising influence of artificial intelligence in the communication space, Dr. Nana cautioned against over reliance on AI without human oversight. Nobody should abdicate every responsibility to AI.

He stated that If one is not well-trained and well grounded, AI can embarrass them emphasizing that AI helps in search but not in deep research that requires human and critical thinking. ?AI cannot replace human judgment, especially in localised or culturally nuanced contexts. For example, AI can?t provide correct spellings to local names and locations,? he added.

Speaking further, Nana stressed that PR professionals play critical advisory roles in management, the professions, academia, and business, far beyond the traditional media functions associated with journalism.

?While journalism gathers information and disseminates to inform, educate, enlighten and entertain through news reports, news analysis, editorials, columns, etc, public relations intervenes to shape perception, guide strategy, recommends tactics and supports decision-making,? he said.

The event also witnessed keynote presentations by the Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, FCA, the Minister for Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake, Investiture of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno, as a Patron and induction of new members, associates including Honorary Fellows among other programmes.

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations was established in 1963 as Public Relations Association of Nigeria but was renamed in 1972. It became a chartered Institute in 1990 through Decree No 16 (now an Act of the National Assembly). The law empowers the Institute to register members, regulate and monitor the practice and development of the profession.

The one week event which began on Monday, May 19 with public relations stakeholders roundtable with traditional rulers in the State, Undergraduate Forum and election of Council Members ended on Friday, May 23, with a visit to tourist sites in Akwa Ibom.

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