The Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Friday in Uyo, the state capital, opened a study centre, described as “an opportunity for interested persons in this side of the Niger, to take advantage and be trained for the PR profession.”

The flag-off of the study centre took place on Friday, during the 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Institute and Second Chief O.W. Udoh Memorial Lecture, as well as awards dinner/N20 million Secretariat expansion fund launching in Uyo.

The O.W. Udoh memorial lecture were anchored by Dr. Andee Iheme, director, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), University of Calabar (UNICAL) study centre and Prof. Des Wilson, professor of Mass Communication, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), both of whom centered their paper presentations on the roles and code of ethics of the PR profession, which stakeholders described as “thought provoking” and “highly educative.”

The theme for Dr. Iheme’s lecture was, “Managing Reputation in National Crises”, while the theme for Prof. Wilson’s paper was, “The Emerging Challenges in Crisis Management: The Public Relations Perspective.” The solemn eulogy on late Chief O.W. Udoh was presented by Elder Nnamnso Umoren at the occasion.

Five prominent personalities and Foundations, who received awards at the event were, the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Donald Etim, popularly known as Don Etim; a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Helen Esuene; the founder of a popular cultural troupe in the state, Chief Ukokpan Ekpo Umana, simply known as “Ukopkan”, the Isabella Medical Scholarship’s Fund (IMSF) established in 2011 and Inoyo Toro Foundation, founded in 2007.

News Express reports that the Akwa Ibom State Chapter of the NIPR, an offshoot of the erstwhile Cross River State, was formed in 1989, but was officially inaugurated in 1993 in Uyo, with late Chief O.W. Udoh as the pioneer President and Mr. Ime Inyang, as pioneer Secretary.

The chapter had produced a National Vice President, six Fellows so far, and for a decade, had been elected into the Council of the Institute, while the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah is currently a Federal Government nominee in the Council, with Okon Imerh, a former Director of Protocol in the state is elected to represent Akwa Ibom and Cross River States respectively.

It is on records that the state chapter of the Institute, was the first chapter nationwide to build its own secretariat, which was inaugurated in 2001 when the chapter hosted that year’s National Conference and AGM, while the current executive was sworn into office on May 16, 2014 and the first time to have a female member as its chairman in the state.

Highlight of the occasion was the formal inauguration of the nine-member state chapter executive committee, headed by the Acting Director General of the AKBC-TV Service, Mrs. Elsie Udofia, by the National President and Chairman of Council of the NIPR, Rotimi Oladele.

•Photo shows NIPR