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The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has raised the alarm over unlicensed practitioners infiltrating the Public Relations (PR) industry. The institute warned that these unqualified individuals are damaging the profession’s reputation, misleading organizations, and flouting federal laws that make certification mandatory.
The NIPR actively enforces the NIPR Act to crack down on these unlicensed practitioners and is working to prosecute offenders who undermine the profession.
Speaking at a special lecture in commemoration of World Public Relations Day 2026, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the NIPR, Rev. Francis Asuk, raised critical concerns on Thursday, July 16, 2026, regarding the profession. The event was held in Port Harcourt in collaboration with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education.
Asuk attributed the field’s negative stereotypes to unqualified interlopers; he emphasized that managing strategic communication for governments and organizations requires strict compliance with NIPR regulations, and that only licensed professionals possess the expertise to build and protect institutional reputations.
He said PR had evolved beyond information dissemination to a strategic leadership function within organisations.
We have observed that people who are not professionals, who are not chartered, who are not members, are secretly entering into the profession and creating confusion, creating all the wrong perceptions that sometimes come.
Asuk said, “If you are not a registered member of NIPR, you do not have the license to practice. And therefore, we encourage all those who want to be communication professionals to properly register with the NIPR.”
He added that the institute had created a robust platform for qualified professionals to register, receive training and practise within the standards of the profession.
Speaking on the theme of the 2026 World PR Day, “The Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations,” Asuk said it reflected the increasing importance of strategic communication in addressing contemporary social, economic, political and developmental challenges.
He said, “It also reminds us that public relations has evolved beyond publicity to become a strategic management function that builds trust, shapes perception, strengthens institutions, and fosters sustainable relationships between organizations and their stakeholders.”
He noted that strategic public relations remained indispensable to Nigeria’s development, saying effective communication promotes transparency, public confidence, citizen engagement, and participation in governance.
He stated, “As governments, businesses, and institutions navigate an increasingly dynamic communication environment, the deployment of strategic public relations has become essential for driving inclusion, managing reputation, mitigating conflict, and strengthening democratic governance.”
Asuk also urged public relations practitioners in Rivers State and the Niger Delta to bridge information gaps, foster dialogue, build consensus among stakeholders, and support initiatives that promote peace, investment, and sustainable development.
Delivering the keynote lecture, a Professor of Political Science at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Kenneth Nweke, said the theme signified a shift from traditional event management and media relations to transparent and effective communication in the digital age.
Nweke said, “Today’s public relations must focus on building trust for government, leadership and the business environment.”
He lamented what he described as deficits in leadership and followership in Nigeria and urged governments to engage committed professionals rather than opportunists in driving public communication.
In a goodwill message, NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, described the theme as evidence of the profession’s evolution into a strategic function at the highest levels of decision-making.
Neliaku said, “Public relations practitioners are now boardroom strategists, reputation architects, and custodians of institutional credibility, shaping decisions at the highest levels of governance and leadership.”
He added that public relations had moved beyond a traditional support role to become a strategic tool for national development, urging practitioners to lead with integrity and build trust-based relationships.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Prof. Okechukwu Onuchuku, represented by the Registrar, Dr Chinonye Ajie, commended the NIPR for hosting the event at the institution and pledged the university’s continued support for the institute’s activities.
