The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for increased support towards the completion of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) National Secretariat project in Abuja, describing it as a landmark initiative that would give the public relations profession a befitting national identity.
Adeniyi made the appeal on Wednesday during an inspection visit to the ongoing construction of the NIPR National Secretariat, known as “Public Relations Place,” located within the premises of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Radio House, Garki, Abuja.
Speaking after inspecting the project, the Customs boss expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work at the site, noting that the public relations profession had contributed significantly to nation-building and the personal development of many professionals across the country.
According to him, the time had come for practitioners, stakeholders, and institutions to collectively support the completion of a national secretariat that Nigerians and the global PR community would be proud of.
“PR has done a lot for many of us. It has given us opportunities and platforms to serve, and it has made many of us what we are today. This is the time for us to give something back to the profession,” Adeniyi stated.
He described the project as a major milestone for the profession and expressed confidence in the leadership of the Institute and members of the project committee handling the construction.
“This is very commendable. There is still a long way to go, but we have the right people to drive this project to completion,” he added.
Adeniyi further appealed to corporate organisations, government institutions, and friends of the profession to support the project ahead of the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum expected to hold in Nigeria later this year.
“We are hosting the world before the end of the year, and this project will be a good gift from Nigeria to the global PR family. Every support towards its completion will be welcome,” he said.
The CGC also assured stakeholders that he would continue mobilising support for the project both within and outside the profession.
A Fellow and immediate past Vice President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Adeniyi reaffirmed his commitment to the growth and development of the public relations profession in Nigeria.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Muhammad Bulama, described the project as a significant development for both the public relations profession and the communication industry in Nigeria.
Bulama said Radio Nigeria willingly released the land for the project after recognising the importance of the Institute in advancing national development and effective public communication.
He admitted that he was initially sceptical about the pace of the project due to the long-abandoned structure that previously occupied the site.
“To be very honest, I was initially sceptical. But today, we are seeing a massive structure rising here within a short period, and we are proud to host this important institution,” he said.
The FRCN boss also commended Adeniyi for his steadfast support for the Institute and the project.
“I want to particularly thank the Comptroller-General of Customs for his support for this institution. He has remained deeply committed to this project,” Bulama added.
Also speaking, the Vice President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations and Chairman of the Project Committee, Emmanuel Dandaura, reaffirmed the Institute’s determination to deliver a befitting national secretariat for the profession.
Dandaura, who received the CGC on behalf of the President and Chairman of Council of the Institute, Ike Neliaku, commended Adeniyi for supporting the vision behind the project.
He noted that the encouragement and support from respected professionals and institutions had continued to strengthen the resolve of the committee to ensure the successful completion of the project.
The inspection visit was attended by Fellows and members of the NIPR Governing Council, officials of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, engineers handling the construction, members of the project committee, and other stakeholders in the communication and public relations sector.
