FG Welcomes Plans for Degree Awarding PR Academy
…Recognizes PR as Civil Service Cadre
By Patience Ikpeme
The federal government has expressed strong support for the establishment of a degree-awarding academy dedicated to Public Relations practice in Nigeria.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, lauded the MOU, highlighting Nigeria’s continued leadership in African PR.
He announced the official designation of Public Relations (PR) as a distinct cadre within the Federal Civil Service, effective December 2023.
This move, championed by the NIPR, elevates the role of PR professionals within the government. The “Information Officer Cadre” has been renamed the “Information and Public Relations Officer Cadre,” and the “Executive Cadre” is now the “Executive Officer (Information and Public Relations)”.
Idris further emphasized Nigeria’s pioneering role in African PR legislation. He noted that during a recent meeting with the President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), Mr. Arik Karani, Nigeria was commended for its longstanding PR regulation.
“It was Nigeria that started it on the continent,” Idris said, highlighting Zambia’s 2023 law as the second such legislation in Africa. Kenya is also working towards establishing a legal framework for PR.
The Minister assured of continued government support for the communications industry. “The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue to provide the enabling environment for everybody within Nigeria’s communications industry to thrive,” he said.
This confluence of developments – the planned PR academy, civil service recognition, and government backing – positions Nigeria as a frontrunner in advancing the professionalization of PR across Africa.
