The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, has called on professional bodies in the communication, information, and marketing sectors to work together in support of national development.
Dr Neliaku made the appeal during the public presentation of the book “Nigeria Media Renaissance: GOCOP Perspectives on Online Publishing”, published by the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), held in Abuja.
He emphasised that national development is a shared goal among institutions such as NIPR, GOCOP, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN).
“Each organisation contributes a unique service that adds value to nation-building,” he said. “This convergence, this collaboration, is what we preach at NIPR. Like the publisher of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, said in the foreword of the book collaboration is the way to go.”
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Dr Neliaku explained that while NIPR focuses on reputation and perception management, GOCOP is dedicated to online journalism, and NIMN promotes product and brand image. “Promotion of the Nigerian brand remains the core objective of these bodies,” he added, noting that their collective intention is to help Nigeria grow and maintain a positive image globally.
He commended GOCOP for documenting the development of online journalism in Nigeria and for championing self-regulation in the media to combat unethical practices.
“The book also highlights the importance of self-regulation as a means of curbing unethical conduct in the media profession,” he said. “Another major strength of the publication is how it presents historical insights from selected states regarding their progress in digital communication and the digital economy.”
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, recognised the wide reach of digital media but warned against the dangers of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news, which he described as threats to national peace and democracy.
GOCOP President, Ms Maureen Chigbo, reaffirmed the guild’s commitment to upholding ethical standards in the online media space.
