When I received copies of MNI versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying and AI in Crisis Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects, both authored by Yushau A. Shuaib, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), I expected two very different books. One appeared to be a memoir of institutional conflict; the other, an academic work on emerging technology and crisis communication.

Having read both, I discovered they are, in many respects, companion volumes. Together, they tell the story of how personal adversity can become intellectual opportunity, and how an interrupted academic journey can ultimately produce work of lasting national and international significance.

As Associate Editor of Spokespersons Digest—the publication behind the National Spokespersons Awards—I was naturally drawn to Chapter Eight of the memoir, “The NIPR Betrayal,” spanning pages 139 to 161. Having covered the activities of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for several years, I approached the chapter with professional curiosity. What I found was an emotionally compelling account that raises broader questions about institutional relationships, professional loyalty and the delicate balance between organisational discipline and support for members.

According to the memoir, shortly after his withdrawal from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Shuaib was invited to appear before the Ethics Panel of the NIPR Council over actions arising from the dispute.

For someone whose professional life had been closely intertwined with the Institute for more than three decades, the experience was understandably painful.

Shuaib traces his relationship with the NIPR back to his undergraduate days at Bayero University, Kano, where he specialised in public relations and, in 1992, became the first recipient of the NIPR President’s Prize for the Best Graduating Public Relations Student. Three years later, he was honoured as the Kano/Jigawa Chapter’s Public Relations Person of the Year.

His career subsequently expanded beyond Nigeria through advanced studies, including a Master’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Westminster, London, professional research in online public relations, and affiliations with international organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). Under his leadership, IMPR also earned multiple international recognitions, including SABRE Awards Africa and IPRA Golden World Awards.

Against this backdrop, one seemingly minor incident in the memoir becomes symbolically significant. The invitation from NIPR reportedly addressed him as “ANIPR” rather than “MNIPR,” the professional designation he had used for many years and which, according to him, had previously appeared in official correspondence from the Institute.

At first glance, it appears trivial. Yet anyone familiar with public relations understands that titles, professional designations and institutional language often carry symbolic meaning. They communicate recognition, identity and belonging.

Shuaib writes that after drawing the Registrar’s attention to the issue, another invitation was issued, this time omitting any professional designation altogether.

Whether intentional or not, the incident deepened his perception that his decades of contribution were no longer receiving institutional acknowledgement.

Equally striking is the memoir’s account of the National Spokespersons Awards.

The book explains that the initiative was conceived in 2019 during the tenure of Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo as President of the NIPR. Its inaugural edition was independently organised by IMPR in 2021 with the Institute’s endorsement before both organisations entered into a formal partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023.

The awards have since grown into one of Nigeria’s foremost platforms for recognising excellence in strategic communication, honouring spokespersons, public information managers, corporate affairs practitioners, military communicators and crisis communication professionals.

According to the memoir, however, the partnership was terminated before the expiration of the agreement by Dr. Ike Neliaku led NIPR.

What surprised me further was when the institute, following the termination, introduced another awards platform under a different name.

Reflecting on the episode, Shuaib writes: “Organisations can withdraw endorsements. Partnerships can be terminated. Titles can be withheld. But one’s name—carefully built over decades—must remain answerable first to conscience, history and truth.”

That statement captures the emotional centre of Chapter Eight.

If that chapter represents the wound, Chapter Nine—”A Blessed Disappointment”—represents the healing. In my view, it is the memoir’s most inspiring chapter.

Rather than dwelling on conflict, it chronicles how an interrupted academic journey became the catalyst for some of the author’s most significant professional achievements.

Shuaib begins by acknowledging the personal toll of the crisis.The combined effects of the NIPSS withdrawal, the NIPR investigation and the ensuing legal battles resulted in something he had never previously experienced—hypertension.

His opening reflection is both simple and profound: “As someone who had spent decades helping individuals and institutions navigate reputational crises, I suddenly found myself at the centre of one.”

Yet the chapter is far from a catalogue of grievances. Instead, it documents how adversity redirected his energy towards new opportunities.

One source of encouragement came from his family, whose support inspired him to take a restorative vacation in Canada. Equally moving were the visits and messages from graduates of the Young Communication Fellowship, many of whom travelled long distances simply to encourage their mentor.

These moments reinforced one of the book’s enduring messages: “True success is not measured by certificates, titles or institutional recognition. It is measured by the positive impact one leaves in the lives of others.”

The memoir also recounts how the NIPSS experience unexpectedly strengthened his vision for expanding the Young Communication Fellowship.

Inspired by the residential model at NIPSS, he developed plans for hostel facilities at the PRNigeria Centres in Kano and Ilorin. During a visit to the Kano Centre, Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, President of MAAUN, asked whether similar facilities existed in Abuja.

When Shuaib explained that such a project was beyond his financial capacity, Professor Gwarzo donated a large building in Lugbe, Abuja, to serve as a training and residential centre for the Fellowship.

It is an extraordinary example of how one setback unexpectedly created room for another opportunity.

Perhaps the chapter’s most compelling narrative, however, concerns the research project that eventually became “AI in Crisis Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.”

Originally approved as a research proposal during SEC 47 at NIPSS, the study was titled “Artificial Intelligence and Crisis Communication in Nigeria’s Public Sector: An Assessment.”

Following his withdrawal from the programme, the institutional framework supporting the research disappeared. Many scholars would understandably have abandoned the project.

Shuaib chose otherwise. Driven by professional conviction and encouraged by colleagues at the Centre for Crisis Communication, he completed the study independently within three months.

The findings proved remarkably relevant. The research identified what he describes as Nigeria’s “awareness-adoption gap.” While many communication professionals are increasingly familiar with artificial intelligence, institutional use remains largely limited to drafting documents, monitoring media content and generating reports.

More advanced applications—including predictive analytics, crisis forecasting, sentiment analysis and misinformation detection—remain significantly underutilised.

The study also highlights a “trust paradox.” Although AI improves speed and efficiency, communication professionals remain cautious about relying on it during crises because of concerns over deepfakes, misinformation, algorithmic bias and the irreplaceable role of human empathy and judgment.

Its central conclusion is both balanced and timely: artificial intelligence should enhance human decision-making, not replace it.

Beyond diagnosis, the research identifies structural barriers to AI adoption, including inadequate digital infrastructure, inconsistent electricity supply, limited broadband penetration, shortages of specialised expertise, weak institutional coordination and underdeveloped policy frameworks.

Importantly, the work did not remain confined to academia. It informed discussions at the Centre for Crisis Communication and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), contributing to the National Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Crisis Communication held at the National Defence College, Abuja, in November 2025.

One outcome of that symposium was the establishment of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at improving crisis management and combating misinformation in Nigeria.

The research subsequently evolved into the 200-page book “AI in Crisis Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects,” endorsed by NITDA Director-General Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Major General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu and Professor Abiodun Adeniyi.

Its most remarkable achievement came when the book was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards in Athens, Greece.

There is considerable irony in this outcome. A research project interrupted within one institution ultimately gained wider relevance beyond it.

Had it remained solely an academic exercise at NIPSS, it might have concluded as another research paper in an institutional archive.

Instead, it became a national symposium, a published book, a catalyst for policy conversations and an internationally recognised work.

That is perhaps the memoir’s greatest lesson. Institutions undoubtedly create opportunities. They nurture ideas, shape careers and provide platforms for scholarship. But ideas, once fully developed, often transcend the institutions that first gave them life.

The enduring strength of MNI versus MNIPR in NIPSS lies not in its recounting of institutional disagreements but in its demonstration that resilience can transform disappointment into lasting contribution.

The closing reflection captures this beautifully: “Institutions may grant opportunities, but they do not own ideas. Once knowledge becomes a mission, it acquires a life of its own. No withdrawal letter can take that away.”

That single sentence summarises not only Chapter Nine but also the relationship between the memoir and its companion volume on artificial intelligence.

Together, they tell the story of an interrupted journey that ultimately reached destinations far beyond where it first began.

Kabir Abdulsalam is Associate Editor of Spokespersons Digest He can be reached via kbabdulsalam03@gmail.com.

The post The Memoir on NIPSS, NIPR and an AI Study That Outlived Institutional Setbacks, By Kabir Abdulsalam appeared first on Tech Digest News.

A Nigerian public relations professional, Yushau A. Shuaib, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over what he describes as “unjust, humiliating, and deeply distressing” treatment at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, where he was suspended from the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47 allegedly over harmless articles supporting the President’s Digital and Blue Economy agenda.

In a detailed petition titled “Unjust Treatment at NIPSS Over Articles Supporting Digital and Blue Economy Reforms,” Shuaib, founder of PRNigeria and a Golden World Award recipient of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), accused the institute of harassment, cyberbullying, and professional ostracisation, despite his full compliance with institutional guidelines and ethical publishing practices.

Shuaib revealed that following his suspension on May 2, 2025, he was asked to vacate the NIPSS premises immediately. The abrupt action shocked his family and colleagues, who were left to speculate on the rationale, especially since all other participants remained in the programme.

“This petition sets the record straight and seeks to prevent false insinuations that could damage my reputation,” he stated.

Shuaib recounted that on October 28, 2024—shortly after receiving an international award in Belgrade—he was nominated by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to participate in the prestigious SEC 47 course. He disengaged from his company, Image Merchants Promotion Ltd, and joined the course in good faith.

However, on March 21, 2025, PRNigeria published a story titled “NIPSS Goes Digital,” which Shuaib neither authored nor edited. The article commended the institute’s transition to a paperless system and highlighted its alignment with the Tinubu’s digital transformation agenda. Despite this positive coverage, Shuaib was issued a query by Barrister Nima Salman Mann, the Acting Director of Studies, and was subsequently pressured by Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha a Directing Staff to discard his initial written defence and submit a revised version dictated by them.

On April 7, 2025, Shuaib was summoned before a disciplinary panel but was denied the opportunity to speak or present his case. The panel relied exclusively on the rewritten response imposed by Rear Admiral Mustapha, rather than the original defence he had prepared.

He was then issued a perplexing final warning letter—his first and only formal warning since the commencement of the programme.

Other participants also reportedly faced disproportionate sanctions. One was queried for commending initiatives of Governor Caleb Mutfwang during a vote of thanks at Governmen House Jos, another for arriving late after a family emergency, and a third for representing NIPSS positively in an external engagement.

On April 28, Shuaib received another query—less than two months after the first. This time, the NIPSS cited a restricted internal PRNigeria editorial email dated April 25, 2025, titled “Understanding the ‘Blue’ in the Blue Economy: A PR Perspective.” The unauthorised interception of this internal correspondence constituted a serious breach of digital privacy and can rightly be described as cyberbullying and cybercrime.

“The article, which I authored and later published in the media, provided insights into the government’s Marine and Blue Economy agenda from a Public Relations standpoint and did not refer to NIPSS whatsoever. Shockingly, the institute had accessed the email before it reached its intended editorial recipient—a clear act of unwarranted surveillance and professional misconduct.

“This act was not just a violation of privacy—it amounted to cyberbullying and professional misconduct,” he stated.

The mental strain from the ordeal reportedly led to a hypertension diagnosis at the NIPSS clinic. According to Shuaib, an official directive later barred other participants from interacting with him, leaving him completely isolated.

In addition to his suspension and exclusion from all official communication platforms, Shuaib was denied participation in the SEC 47 international study tours, despite having paid the full ₦18.2 million fee. All other participants were granted travel privileges and Estacodes for official tours across Africa and other continents.

Shuaib told an internal investigative committee—convened after his suspension—that while NIPSS’s Terms of Undertaking emphasise confidentiality, they do not define what qualifies as public, restricted, or classified information, as the institute does not have a communication policy to guide social or media engagement of the participants.

“All my articles were based on publicly available national discourse and never revealed internal NIPSS content,” he insisted. Following two appearances before the committee, he said he received no further communication.

In his concluding appeal to President Tinubu, Shuaib urged an independent investigation into the disciplinary process and cyber-privacy violations and a review of his suspension and exclusion.

He urged the establishment of a clear communication policy for participants at NIPSS.

He also criticised what he described as the excessive militarisation of the academic environment at NIPSS—an approach he says deviates from global best practices at institutions like Brookings (USA), Chatham House (UK), SWP (Germany), and RSIS (Singapore), where constructive dissent and academic freedom are valued.

“All I seek is the opportunity to complete the course, reclaim my dignity, and continue contributing meaningfully to the development of our great nation,” he concluded.

As at press time, NIPSS management has not publicly responded to the allegations.

The post SHOCKING: NIPSS Suspends Participant Over Articles Backing Digital, Blue Economy Reforms Despite ₦18m Fee appeared first on Tech Digest News.

Twenty winners emerged in the 4th National Spokespersons Awards (NSAwards) ceremony, which was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and its partner, Image Merchants Promotions, at the iconic International Conference Center in Abuja on March 27, 2024.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, said that “The National Spokespersons’ Awards recognise accomplishments, motivate others to strive for excellence, enhance visibility, and add legitimacy to the reputation of recipients by demonstrating superiority, expertise, and uniqueness. The awards also provide avenues for networking opportunities and business relationships, improve employees’ performance, and boost their morale.”

The Awards ceremony is a part of the inaugural National Spokespersons Summit with the theme Change Narratives, Change Society, which was held from March 26 and 27, 2024, at the same venue.

The winners of various categories of the awards included Hakama Sidi Ali (CBN), Distinguished Spokesperson in Financial Service Award; Olufemi Soyemi (NNPC PLC), Distinguished Spokesperson in the Oil and Gas Industry; Adewale Adebajo (British Council), Most Innovative Spokesperson in Diplomatic & Multinational Award; Jossy Nkwocha, Indorama Petrochemical), Distinguished Spokesperson in Environmental Sustainability; Charles Aniagwu (Delta State), Spokesperson in Public Sector Gold Award (State); Maryam Sanusi (FERMA), Spokesperson in Public Sector Gold Award (Federal); Festus Akande (Supreme Court), Outstanding Spokesperson Award in Judiciary; and Eseme Eyibo (Office of the Senate President) Outstanding Spokesperson Award in Legislature.

Others included Sanusi Bature (Kano State) who won the Outstanding Spokesperson Award in the Executive Arm; Reuben Muoka (NCC) won the Distinguished Spokesperson in Technology; Jonas Agwu (FRSC) won the Award for the Outstanding Security Spokesperson; Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau (Defence Headquarters) won the Award for Outstanding Military Spokesperson; Peter Afunanya (DSS) won the Award for the Distinguished Spokesperson in Crisis Management; Michael Adande (Shell Company) won the Award for the Distinguished Spokesperson in Corporate Communication; while Rafiu Ajakaye (Kwara State) won the Award for the Distinguished Spokesperson in Political Communication.

Furthermore, Stanley Olisa (Air Peace) won the Young Spokesperson of the Year Award; Abdullah Maiwada (Nigeria Customs Service) won the Best Spokesperson of the Year Award; and Abdulrahman Balogun (NIDCOM) won the Excellence in International Relations Award. The Nigeria Customs Service won the award for Excellence in Regulatory Compliance, while the Kwara State Governor smiled home with the Excellence in Corporate Governance Award in the corporate category.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Chairperson of the Jury, Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, said most of the campaigns were campaigns executed in the last year.

She pointed out that the assessment criteria adopted in selecting winners were based on communication objectives, clarity of strategy, theme and relevance, channel selection, creativity and innovation, storytelling and framing, engagement with the audience, use of new technology, effectiveness of communication, and professionalism.

The scholar said, “The Jury received the entries from the 151-page document on March 5, 2024, out of which three candidates were shortlisted in each category out of 224 nominees. Those who received at least 50% of the vote were chosen as nominees. Some of the entries demonstrated originality and solutions to contemporary challenges, while others provided evidence of the professionalism and effectiveness of their campaigns. The three finalists were asked to submit a two-minute video of their campaigns for ultimate selection in the Spokesperson of the Year category, which is the flagship award. Only two responded: Reuben Muoka and Abdullahi Maiwada.”

“After the first segment of the assessment, the Jury shortlisted the candidates according to the frequency of mentions in each category. The next step was electronic voting, which commenced on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. We congratulate the winners and affirm greater hope of future success for any candidacy that was not successful. There is always another chance for better results,” she concluded.

The Chairman of the Award Coordinating Committee, Segun Mcmedal, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Lagos NIPR, commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for partnering with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, and the Spokespersons’ Digest in hosting the 4th National Spokespersons’ Awards. He noted that the three previous editions were organised between 2021 and 2023 by Image Merchants Promotions.

The post 20 Honourees Clinches National Spokespersons Awards 2024 appeared first on Tech Digest News.

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has endorsed 20 award categories for the forthcoming National Spokesperson Awards (NSAwards).

The Vice President of NIPR, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, confirmed the development shortly after the Minister of Information, Alhaji idris Malagi unveiled the action plan on the forthcoming National Spokespersons’ Summit billed for March 2024.

Prof Dandaura said the award ceremony which is being organised in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons’ Digest, is to acknowledge outstanding contributions of communication professionals and spokespersons across Nigeria.

“The idea of the award is to identify spokespersons who are doing extraordinarily well in their communication and engagement with the public and serving as worthy role models to upcoming practitioners.

Dandaura also commended the Information Minister for unveiling the action plan on the National Spokespersons’ Summit being organised by the NIPR in collaboration with the Ministry and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

“The National Spokespersons’ Summit which was unveiled by the Honourable Minister, a Fellow of our institute, will attract brilliant minds in the profession to teach, inspire and learn.

“While the Summit will provide the opportunity for learning latest skills and trends, the award ceremony will provide opportunity for networking and gaining insights into successful PR campaigns by spokespersons.”

In his remarks, the Cordinating Chairman of the awards Committee and former Chairman of Lagos NIPR Chapter, Mr Segun Mcmedal, said the awards would encourage creativity, inclusivity, and measurable impact in public communication, stakeholders’ engagement, issue and reputation management among others.

He disclosed that the award entries would be assessed by the Jury compirsing communication scholars, PR practitioners and media personalities based on the campaign objectives, channel selection, creativity and innovation, engagement with audience and Effective impact

Speaking further, McMedal said the award categories would recognise outstanding spokespersons in Political Communication, Crisis Communication, Financial Services, Technology, Sustainable Environment, Military and Security Services.

Other categories include accomplished spokesperson in public sector both in the federal and state government as well as the other branches of government: the Judiciary, Legislature and the Executive arms.

Similarly, the award would recognise professional excellence in Civil Society
Organisations, International/Multinational bodies, Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance.

Mr. Mcmedal announced www.NSAwards.ng as the official portal for the submission of entries for the National Spokespersons’ Awards.

By PRNigeria

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Communication scholars and public relations practitioners in Nigeria have declared that Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot replace human intelligence in whatever guise.

At the Annual General Meeting and Public Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Kano Chapter, the experts opined AI is designed to replace manual work effectively and quickly, and cannot override the need for human input in the workspace.

In his presentation on “Artificial Intelligence and Spin Doctoring in Public Relations Practice in Nigeria”, the guest speaker, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, questioned the hype around AI. He noted that even though the technology will aid human efforts in all endeavours, including PR practice and data collection, it is impossible for it to replace human instinct, interactivity and creativity.

The guest speaker stated that AI cannot have superiority over human abilities, since computers could have remained exactly the same way in a hundred years without human inputs. The human element, he stressed, is not easily replaceable by technology because effective PR strategies require the expertise and experience of skilled professionals.

Admitting AI has become an essential part of the business landscape as the technology presents new opportunities for growth and development, Adamu, who holds professorships in Science Education, and Media and Cultural Communication, contended: “AI is a tool, not a human, and lacks the emotions needed when it comes to certain parts of the business.”

Managing Director of Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR), Yushau Shuaib agreed that it is impossible for AI to replace human intelligence, saying the technology can only enhance the work of professionals in the areas of audience targeting, content generation, media engagement, online reputation management and crisis management.

“AI is nothing new; search engines, location search tools, spell checkers, reverse image apps, computer games, among other tools, share the same feature. We can’t deny that AI saves time, increases efficiency, improves accuracy and enhances competitive advantages. It merely augments human intelligence but can never replace creativity, human interactions and natural instinct; one cannot fall in love with a robot in the real sense,” Shuaib averred.

President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliak, who said humans are immensely valuable in public relations because AI cannot replace the need for creativity in interactions, commended the NIPR Chapter in Kano and a Governing Council member Dr. Sule Yau Sule for facilitating the lecture on contemporary issues.

In his remarks, Kano Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Baba Dantiye advised practitioners to be up to date with modern tools for communication. The senior government official called on NIPR to organise more capacity-building programmes on artificial intelligence for spokespersons and PR experts.

After inaugurating the newly elected leadership of NIPR in Kano, Dr. Neliaku embarked on a facility tour of IMPR’s PRNigeria Centre which owns PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, Spokespersons’ Digest and other titles. The delegation inspected the Digital Communication Room, Conference Office, and Research and Fact-Checking desks.

Mr. Shuaib said most of the staff are certified public relations practitioners with diverse skills in journalism, social media, strategic communication and fact-checking using artificial intelligence. IMPR provides mentorship programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students through internship placements in its Abuja and Kano offices.

The publisher said having realised the importance of AI in PR, the firm deployed the technology for audience targeting, content generation, media engagement, perception index, online reputation management and sentiment analysis in crisis communication. Some of the tech tools are deployed for predictive analytics, media monitoring, budgeting, social media management, video production and speech-to-text content.

Dr. Neliaku offered to partner with IMPR, recalling he was recently briefed by NIPR Vice President, Professor Emma Dandaura on the areas of collaboration. He said: “As we are planning the hosting of the national spokespersons’ workshop, we have assigned Dr. Sule Yau Sule, a veteran spokesperson to governors, ministers and senators, to chair the Planning Committee.

“On the request of IMPR for partnership on its annual Spokespersons’ Communication Awards, we hope the forthcoming National Spokespersons Summit that has been approved by the Minister of Information and National Orientation will also be a better platform to showcase and celebrate outstanding public relations campaigns by organisations and individuals.

“With what I have seen at the NIPR Conference in Kano, our proposed workshop will also focus on various ways in which artificial intelligence can be used in PR practice, the technological tools, the potential risks and benefits, the ethical considerations and likely case studies so that participants can stay up to date with the latest development.

“Let me congratulate Mallam Shuaib, a multi-talented PR practitioner whom I have known for more than two decades, for mentoring young journalists and communicators. The IMPR has been one of our ambassadors, using its centres in Abuja and Kano to teach young communicators about stakeholder engagement, entrepreneurship and the digital economy. When I came into office, I insisted we must relate well with our chapters and ensure that PR practitioners succeed.”

The highlight of the events were the awards of honour by NIPR in Kano to Prof. Adamu and Mr. Shuaib, as well as the presentation of books published by PRNigeria staff to Dr. Neliaku, his immediate predecessor Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo, and a member of the institute’s Governing Council, Mr. Bashir Adamu Chedi.

Abdul Ozumi, a PR enthusiast and communicator, writes from Kano

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TECHDIGEST – The Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) joins the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day 2023 with the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.”

Speaking on this year’s theme which aims to highlight the importance of leveraging innovation and technology to achieve gender equality and empower women in all aspects of life, the Chairman of the Lagos Chapter of NIPR, Mrs. Comfort Obot Nwanwkwo noted that the world is moving towards a digital age, and women must not be left behind.

She said: “It is critical to address the gender gap in access to technology and digital literacy to ensure that women can benefit from the opportunities that come with the digital age.

As a professional body committed to promoting excellence in the practice of Public Relations, the Lagos Chapter of NIPR recognizes the need for increased awareness and support for women’s access to technology and digital literacy.

We also acknowledge the remarkable achievements of women in the field of technology and innovation, and we encourage more women to join the industry.”

She continued: “We call on government and private sector stakeholders to prioritize initiatives that will promote gender equality and bridge the digital divide for women. This includes policies that support equal access to technology, digital skills training programs, and the promotion of women’s participation in technology and innovation.”

READ ALSO: How to protect your social media accounts

“We also urge individuals and organizations to embrace diversity and inclusivity in the workplace and ensure that women have equal opportunities to contribute to the growth and development of their organizations.”

By PR Nigeria

The post IWD 2023: Lagos NIPR Advocates Access to Technology, Digital Literacy for Women appeared first on Tech Digest News.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina; Spokesperson of Department of State Security Service (DSS), Dr. Peter Afunanya and Media Aide to Justice Minister, Dr. Gwandu, were among the recipients celebrated at the annual ‘Security and Emergency Management Awards’ (SAEMA); and Spokespersons Communication Awards’ (SCA).

The dual events took place at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja.

Adesina who was Chairman of the Occasion was surprised when he was conferred with an award on Strategic Communication as a Distinguish Fellow of SCA.

President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo, in a keynote address, while decrying worsening insecurity in the country, highlighted the importance of strategic communication as a panacea for mitigating all kinds of socio-ethnic tensions.

Sirajo recalled how their Institute recently deployed strategic communication as a tool for enhancing national integration in the contemporary Nigerian State, which he said is divided.

The summit was held in various states of the federations on a regional basis.

The NIPR boss, observed that their ‘Citizens Summit on National Peace, Security and Integration, which was held across the six geo-political zones a few months ago, brought Nigerians from different works of life to harness their diversity for the collective good of all.

“What the SAEMA and SCA convener, Mal. Yushau Shuaib of PRNigeria is doing by annually organizing these auspicious events, is part of the strategic communication needed to re-set Nigeria,” said Sirajo.

In his remark, Adesina, Chairman of the Occasion, lauded Mal. Shuaib for consistently providing the general public with authoritative and factual information on security-related issues and matters.

“PRNigeria is my go-to on insurgency and banditry reports. It is one news medium which many people do not doubt its reportage on security issues,” said the presidential spokesman.

Adesina, while speaking further, lamented that majority of Nigerians prefer negative reports about setbacks suffered by military and security agencies against terrorists, bandits and other criminals.

He said: “You that spread the good news about the success story of our troops become the butt of their jokes and their enemy”.

The Director of Defence Information, Major General Jimmy Akpor commended the PRNigeria for hosting the annual awards on security and communication.

“In the military, we trust the credibility and the independent editorial of PRNigeria as it reports activities in the sectors with fairness, accuracy and facts that also protect our national security and interest,” Gen Akpor added.

While welcoming guests to the ceremony, Shuaib, who also is the Publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, said that their SAEMA has so much become a household name among security agencies, stakeholders and experts “that we received 145 entries this year, out of which we had to work round the clock to come up with two finalists for each of the categories.

He said: “Let me however at this point make it known that all the finalists are thoroughly deserving of not only the nomination but also the awards. It was therefore a lot of work, via a transparent process, before our team of unbiased experts and professionals could select the eventual winners who will go home with the award plaques”.

Like every year, he noted that, some winners of their last year SAEMA and SCA events also conquered Africa and the world.

“Three of our last year winners did not only win awards at the Africa Public Relations Association (APRA) ceremony in Tanzania but they also emerged finalists at the Golden World Award of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) scheduled to take place in Japan where the book “101 Fake News on EndSARS” emerged a winner.

“At the Digital Communication Awards (DCA) in Germany, NITDA was also shortlisted among the finalists with another award-winning book “Digital Innovation for Economic Prosperity.” All these came a year after IMPR was declared the most creative PR Agency in the world (2020),” said Shuaib.

The 2nd SAEMA and SCA events were hosted in collaboration with the Centre for Crisis Communication, CCC, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, the International Emergency Management Society, TIEMS, and The Media Today, TMT.

The SAEMA recognizes outstanding gallantry, and contributions to safety, security and Emergency Management in Nigeria, while the SCA recognizes the most outstanding public relations campaigns and communications strategies by professionals, groups and institutions.

Individuals honoured at the awards ceremony included Femi Babafemi of NDLEA as the Spokesperson of the Year; Dr. Umar Gwandu of Justice Ministry for Public Affairs; Dr. Peter Afunanya of the Department of State Services, DSS, for Crisis Communication; Lt. Col. Ishaya Aliyu for Gallantry; Air Comdr Edward Gabkwet for Crisis Management, Ismail Omipidan for Media Relations, ACP Daniel Amah as the Security Officer of the Year, and Mal. Ibrahim Salim Umar of Daily Trust as Humanitarian Journalist of the Year among others.

The institutional award recipients included the Kaduna NIPR Chapter for Event Management; Lagos NIPR Chapter for Best Chapter of the Year; Nigeria Police Public Relations School for Knowledge Hub; NITDA for Social Media; NIMC for Corporate Reputation Management; EFCC for Cybercrime Prevention; ICPS for Public Information; DIA for Intelligence and Safety, NCS for Training, NSCDC for Emergency Management, NCoS for Community Service, CISA for Volunteers among others.

Other recipients included Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Navy, Reignite Public Affairs, NCC, CAC, Central Bank of Nigeria, Samuel Adeyemi of NIPR Lagos, Uba Misili of Gombe State and Prof Emmanuel Dandaura.

Meanwhile, a group of students from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria were honoured with the Young Communicators Awards.

Other dignitaries at the occasion included Major General Chris Olukolade as Military Spokesperson, Brig Gen Sanu Usman Kukasheka as Army Spokesperson, Air Comdr Anas Yusuf Retired of Centre for Crisis Communication, Dr Sule Yau Sule Chairman of the Jury Panel, Mal Ismail Sani of Wonderland Television among others

By PRNigeria

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TECHDIGEST – The Head of Corporate Affairs at the National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, has become a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR.

She was conferred with the Fellowship honour at an event organized by NIPR in Abuja.

The event was attended by the representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, who tasked NIPR members and its Fellows to champion the course of rebuilding Nigeria’s image, especially in the global arena.

Meanwhile, PRNigeria gathered that, Mrs. Umar, a journalist and public relations expert, with vast practical experience, joined NITDA from NBC in 2009, as its Head of Corporate Affairs.

With thorough understanding of government operations, she has demonstrated a good relationship between NITDA and stakeholders in the Information Technology industry of Nigeria, and the global IT community.

Through her supervisory role, Mrs. Umar was able to relate, maintain and sustain a favourable communication channel and understanding between NITDA and its public, while collaborating with various departments to provide updates on IT services and monitoring of NITDA collaboration network with focal organisations, and stakeholders both national and international.

With her vast experience and training in public relations management and practices, she is determined to reposition NITDA using the various PR tools and strategies towards achieving its vision as the prime catalyst for transforming Nigeria into a knowledge-driven economy.

Mrs Umar has attended various PR and Management Training programmes and conferences national and international. Apart from being a fellow of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), she is a member African Business School (ABS); Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Corporate Administration (CICA).

By PRNigeria

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Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, who had been serving as the Director of the Commission’s Special Duties Department, is replaced by Muoka. Along with Ismail Adedigba, who is now Director of Research and Development (R&D), and Gwa-Tobi Mohammed, who has also acquired responsibilities as Director/Secretary to the Board of the Commission, the new NCC spokesperson was recently promoted to substantive director.In 2021, Muoka was chosen to lead the Special Duties Department, which also oversees the Commission’s Security Services Unit, Emergency Communication Centers Unit, and Public Private Partnership Unit.

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Before his current redeployment to head the Public Affairs Department, the arm of the Commission tasked with managing the image and visibility of Nigeria’s telecom regulator and a shining example of the country’s public service, he was promoted to Director of the Department.

Muoka is expected to contribute his extensive and diverse experience in both traditional and specialized journalism, public relations, corporate communication, integrated marketing communications (IMC), and people management to the Commission’s vision to broaden the reach of its goodwill with the public and the influence of its reputational assets.

Reubens Ejike Muoka is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); a full member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (mnipr); and an associate member of the Registered Practitioners of Advertising (arpa), regulated by the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

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TECHDIGEST – Public Relations and media professionals and other important institutions/agents of change in Nigeria have been urged to join advocacy for gender balancing, inclusion and fairness for the promotion of socio-economic development in the country.

Mrs. Grace Bose Ojougboh, Head, Media and Public Relations at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and producer/host of the weekly inspirational programme ‘Amazing Grace with Bose’ on YouTube, made the call while delivering a paper around gender balancing and fairness at the March 2022 monthly meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Abuja Chapter which took place at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja recently (Wednesday March 30, 2021).

Speaking to NIPR members, including Fellows of the Institute at the event on the thought-provoking paper titled: “Achieving Gender Equality In Nigeria: The Role Of Public Relations”, Ojougboh perceptively re-awakened the consciousness of the audience to the often-misconstrued concept of feminism while taking pragmatic look at how this concept should be understood by all to actualise the lofty desire of maximizing the innate potentials of female gender towards achieving greater developmental goals in the society.

She equated feminism with the philosophical aspiration for gender equality as a fundamental human right, which also finds concrete expression in the Goal Five of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) centering on gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls with the hope to end all acts of discrimination against the female gender.

Ojougboh noted with copious instances, that, till date, issues pertaining to women gender has not always received the expected attention, whether by government, parents, the media, communication professionals; traditional and religious leaders, adding that there was need for a change of narrative with respect to how issues pertaining to gender balancing and fairness are effectively mainstreamed into Nigeria’s developmental drive.

According to her, the continuous imbalance in women participation in politics and governance and all the sectors of the economy is glaring, as she submitted that, women are given almost no opportunity to participate in politics and in other spheres of life, this is in spite of the advocacy and call for inclusion and the strategies by various international agencies to reduce gender inequality to the barest minimum.

“Only recently, bills seeking gender equality were rejected by the National Assembly. Appointments across parastatals are dominated by men, this has got to change. If we want economic growth, we must include women, women are transformational agents. We need much more that 35 per cent affirmative action,” she said.

She stated that the fact that women represent about 50 per cent of Nigerian population, according to a 2020 report, means that Nigeria, as a country, cannot afford to neglect the wisdom and the capability of this group and the contribution that women can bring to make Nigeria a truly prosperous nation.

Justifying the need for media/Public Relations practitioners to be at the forefront of driving the narrative for gender balancing, Ojougboh cited an empirical study on media and gender inequality in Nigerian politics, which found that women were denied fair access to the media just as the study also identified media bias in the coverage of female news stories.

She said the findings of the study is a wake-up call that media and Public Relations practitioners have a whole lot to do in the fight for gender balancing in Nigeria. “We need to understand our social responsibility as perception drivers to promote unity, social cohesion, gender balancing/equality and the fundamental human rights of every Nigerian,” she said

She also tasked them to be deliberate and intentional about their communication such that it builds understanding, trust, and acceptance and becomes a win-win for men and women alike and all who desire to see equal representation of men and women across all sectors of the society.

“As Public Relations practitioners, we must help to create gender-sensitive and gender-transformative content that will change perceptions and break gender stereotypes. We must use every available medium to challenge traditional and cultural norms and attitudes that demean womanhood and does not serve humanity,” she said.

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