The Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has been commended for ensuring strict regulatory compliance and enforcement of PR laws and practices in Nigeria.
Spokesperson to the President of the Senate, Hon. Esemeh Eyiboh, made the commendation when he visited the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku in Abuja.
The spokesperson, who during the visit submitted his application form for the membership of NIPR, said that as a law-abiding citizen, he must comply with Nigerian law and regulations in joining the Institute so as to guide him in his role and professional engagements.
Hon. Eyiboh said: “I am here with my application form to signify my intention to join NIPR as a law-abiding citizen by complying with enabling laws that establish the institute.
“I believe the membership will afford me the opportunity to upgrade my skills and enable me to add value in my new position as the Special Adviser on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication to the Senate President, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
“As a lawyer, a former federal lawmaker, and an obedient citizen, I didn’t come through the back door, but the front door, the only entry to NIPR as a professional body for reputation management in the country.
“As you may be aware, I have over 20 years of working experience in event management, lobbying, political communication, and strategic engagements among others”.
In his response, Dr. Neliaku commended Eyiboh for identifying with the Institute and assured him that his application would be processed accordingly through the membership directorate.
He said: “NIPR is not a product of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) but a product of the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and is chartered. It was established by a Decree i. 1991 to practice and regulate the profession… By the reemergence of democracy in 1999, it became an Act of the National Assembly cited as N114 Law of the Federation.
“We are not joking on the issue of compliance and enforcements to weed out quacks from the profession. That is why our doors are open to register new members and regulate themselves by observing and maintaining professional and ethical standards.
“We will grant membership and certify new applicants who are qualified to practice as prescribed by the law. Applicants who do not qualify, we will guide them accordingly on the required training and qualifications for membership. We dont chase people away. We are only advising them to be law-abiding by avoiding quackery”.
Mr. Eyiboh, a two-time member of the House of Representatives, was in the Green Chamber from 2007 to 2015.
He was the spokesperson and chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs between 2007 and 2011 under the speakership of Dimeji Bankole, before he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Civil Society Organisations and Donor Agencies by former Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from 2011 to 2015.
Eyiboh is the immediate past Chairman the governing Board of the Cross River Basins Development Authority and is a former Executive Chairman, the Akwa Ibom State Ethical and Attitudinal Reorientation Commission.
He is a former Director, Akwa Palm Industries Ltd, former Speaker, WAIFEM forum for Regional Parliamentarians, Accra, and former Corporate Affairs Consultant, Socfinco Indufina of Brussel.
The new Special Adviser to Sen. Godswill Akpabio is also the Dean of the Faculty, Board of the Initiatives, an agenda-setting caucus of former and serving members of the National Assembly
A lawyer by qualification, Eyiboh attended Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, University of Uyo, Nigerian Law School Abuja and Said Business School, Oxford University.
By PRNigeria
