By Ezekiel Dontinna
The National President of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NiPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku fnipr, has rated high the level of progress made on the Plateau, describing the chapter as historically one of the best in the country.
He has also appreciated the warm reception given to him and his team by the NiPR elder statesman, Sir Joseph Ari, and Plateau State Government on their arrival for the Governor’s Investiture as Patron of the chapter.
The President stated this yesterday, while in an interview with Journalists shortly after a reception dinner organised for him and Council Members by the former Director General, Industrial Trust Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari fnipr, who is NiPR Icon in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
He said, “NIPR in Plateau State is a work of progress. The Plateau State chapter has been quite historical. It’s not new. They’ve been here for a very good number of years and the work is still going on.
“We would want it to advance more rapidly than what it is now. But they are doing their best. They are trying. There can be more. And I believe that they are poised to doing more.
“And after the programme, I know that they will be more inspired and energized to do more. I feel good. The elder who hosted us is somebody who is highly respected at the institute”, Neliaku appreciated.
He, described Sir Joseph Ari as a former Governing Council member of the institute who has worked very hard for the institute and that, he was still working hard for the institute.
“He’s done very well and we are very delighted that he found time to welcome us into his family home and to give us this level of welcome”.
The President, however, disclosed that, they would used the opportunity of this visit to look at the developmental strides of the Plateau State Governor, to see what he has done, what he was doing and what he intends to do for the people of Plateau State.
On his part, the Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Community, Hon. Musa Ibrahim Ashoms, said, as a government, they were elated to have these creams of personalities from 17 States of Nigeria coming into the state.
He described the delegation of the NiPR as opinion molders, people who could shape the public perception of Nigeria and Nigerians saying, “it is a testament to the fact that we are living peacefully with our neighbors, that we are also living peacefully with ourselves.
“You can see that they’ve come to do an investiture on His Excellency the Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, by tomorrow at 11 o’clock. He will become the Patron of NIPR Plateau State Chapter.
“So, here we have people that have spoken for the military, people that have spoken for different ministries, departments and agencies in Nigeria.
“And of course, basically, it is a sign that something is working. It is a good sign that His Excellency Barrister Caleb Manasseh Muftwang is leading Plateau to glory and they’ve come to share in that”, Ashoms reiterated.
Earlier, the Governing Council Member of the NiPR representing Plateau State, Professor Sarah Benjamin-Lohas, commended Sir Ari, for hosting the President and his Council Members, describing him as an Icon of the NiPR in Nigeria saying, “I say so with a lot of pride, which indeed is Sir joseph Ari, FNIPR.
“He has been a mentor, he has been a passionate advocate of public relations and he is a fellow of the institute and also a one-time governing council member representing Plateau state.
“So, he thought that we should all come together at his residence here this evening and just ease out from all the activities that we had to engage Mr President and the Vice President and governing council members”, she appreciated.
Meanwhile, the host, who is the immediate past Director General of the Industrial Trust Fund (ITF) and former Governing Council Member representing Plateau State, Sir Joseph Ntung Ari, fnipr, said having the number one public relations practitioner in Nigeria in Plateau State was a welcomed development for them.
“So what we are doing is to showcase the Plateau State chapter and to show the world and Nigeria that the Plateau State Chapter has come of age.
“And so, this is just part of our efforts as a chapter, you know, to demonstrate our hospitality and our generosity as a people. And so, that is all it is, that we showcase what Plateau is and who we are.
“He is here with the Vice President, with Council Members, and so we have come out in our numbers to receive them and to let them know that the chapter is very strong here and the practice of public relations itself is on the high”, he emphasized.
Ari, however, alluded to the fact that the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations has made some of them to grow to be who they were in the attainment of goals achieved stressing that, “we must always identify with the institute that has shaped us, that has made us who we are today”.
There were good will messages from the respected nipr personalities as they unanimously approved the enrollment of Mrs Victoria Joseph Ari, wife of the reception host into the Nipr membership amidst cheers and display by the Plateau State cultural troupes.
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