- As United Airlines Okonkwo bags NIPR’s excellence in public service
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan, has emphasised the importance of effective communication in the public service, urging a shift from outdated perceptions of the civil service.
She stated this after being conferred with a Fellowship Award by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). The ceremony was held alongside a Lecture marking the International Public Relations Day, themed “The Future of Public Relations in a Changing World: Journey in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service.”
She countered claims made by Founder of The Albino Foundation, Jake Epelle regarding the most senior person living with a disability being on level 14, stating, “Today, we have more than one person as director and they are persons living with disability. In fact, one of them, is the Director HRM in the commission currently.”
Yemi-Esan also acknowledged the ongoing collaboration between the Service Welfare Office and the Federal Civil Service Commission to gather data on the number of people living with disabilities. She assured that the work would be completed within a month, with the commission being part of the process.
Furthermore, the Head of Civil Service, addressed the issue of a notable Nigerian’s recent comments about the civil service being the most corrupt institution.
Yemi-Esan expressed her embarrassment, stating that the experiences shared were from years ago and that it is crucial to investigate and ask questions instead of living in the past.
She said: “Last week, a notable Nigerian also came out to talk about the civil service being the most corrupt institution. I was embarrassed because all the things that the notable Nigerian was saying especially his experience, were things that occurred years ago and I thought that for us to talk about the civil service today, we need do some investigation. Ask questions instead of living in the past and thinking that the civil service of today is still where it was two years ago. So I had to seize the opportunity since I have been inducted as PR manager on behalf of the Civil service to say that the civil service has moved from where it was years ago.”
Emphasizing the importance of information and image management in corporate governance, Yemi-Esan said, “If you don’t tell your story, someone else will.” She acknowledged the guest lecturer’s remarks on the professionalization of PR and the impact of digitalization and AI, stating that it aligns with her own preaching on the matter.
Yemi-Esan praised the leadership of NIPR, particularly the proactive actions of the NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, in presenting an innovative memo to the National Council on Establishment to transform the nomenclature of information officers in the federal civil service to information and public relations officers.
In conclusion, Yemi-Esan dedicated her Fellowship Award to the glory of God and recognized the hardworking civil servants who have contributed to the notable strides in the federal civil service. She emphasized that the transformation has been a collaborative effort, not a one-man show.
Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Obiora Okonkwo, was also honoured by the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) with a Diamond Certificate and Plaque for Excellence in Public Service.
The President of NIPR, Neliaku, lauded the United Nigeria Airlines owner for his patriotism in nation building.
Accepting the award, Okonkwo lauded the NIPR for its relentless campaign in changing the narrative about Nigeria and delivering a positive image for the country.
In his lecture to mark the international day, titled: “The Future Of Public Relations in Nigeria In A Changing World: Journey In The Nigerian Federal Civil Service” a fellow of Institute, Olufemi Oyawale, emphasised the critical role of Public Relations (PR) in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service. He argued that effective PR fosters transparency and trust between the government and citizens, essential for democratic legitimacy.
Oyawale noted that PR should inform the public of government actions while also relaying public sentiment back to officials. He highlighted the evolution of governmental PR in Nigeria, its achievements, and the need for modernization through automation and professional training.
The future of PR, he asserted, hinges on inclusivity and strategic involvement in decision-making processes to enhance governance and public engagement.
The event was chaired by Senator Osita Izunaso.