The Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has held its 2015 Colloquium and Award Ceremony on Thursday, August 13, 2015. The event which took place at the auditorium of the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta was declared open by the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikune Amosun ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga .
The discourse, themed “Image Makers' Perspective in the Reinvention of the Nigerian Nation” attracted a crème of dignitaries from the Nigerian Integrated Marketing Communications industry, traditional institution, media, the academia (lecturers and Mass Communication students of Lagos State University, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, and Ogun State University). The event also had communication staff from local, state and federal governments.
Declaring the colloquium open, Senator Amosun appreciated the chapter chairman of Ogun State NIPR, Mr. Tope Adaramola and his executive members for creating a platform for cross fertilization of ideas on how to make Nigeria better. He emphasised that the CHANGE mantra of the ruling political party, APC, has been the driver of the successes recorded within two months of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government. He called for attitudinal change among Nigerians in order to make the Nigeria project work.
In his presentation, the keynote speaker, Mr. Yomi Badejo- Okusanya, Secretary General of the African Public Relations Association (APPRA) and Chief Executive of the CMC Connect Group, relayed the political history of Nigeria and analysed primordial factors that have eroded the image and goodwill of the nation since independence. He said that the Nigerian nation had suffered serious image slur as a result of the decay in the system, which has denied the country of her pivotal place in the comity of progressive nations.
He identified impunity as the bane of Nigeria’s socio, political and economic development. Nigeria, he said, “has suffered moral bankruptcy as a result of corruption that permeates every facet of our lives”. He commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making genuine efforts at eradicating graft and corruption in government. He also advocated for a national reputation summit where all stakeholders in government and communications industry will aggregate solutions to the already battered image of Nigeria.
The chairman of the colloquium, Professor Lai Osho of the Department of Mass Communications, Lagos State University, extolled the quality of the paper delivered by the guest speaker Mr. Badejo- Okusanya.
On the theme of discourse, Prof. Osho averred that “the nation is currently going through a rebirth in the way we think, the way we do things, and in our attitude. He added that President Buhari has brought sanity back to governance.
Highpoints of the event was the presentation of Awards to distinguished personalities like Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Engineer Biodun Fijabi, and Alhaji Jimoh Popoola, for their unparalleled entrepreneurship spirit in the state, while the NIPR Technocrats Award goes to the Ogun State Head of Service, Mrs. Modupe Adekunle.
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