President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, says Nigeria cannot achieve significant growth without embracing development communication—a strategic approach that exposes the damaging consequences of corruption and mobilises citizens to confront it.
Neliaku spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the 4th Economic Confidential Annual Lecture and 6th National Spokespersons Awards, organised by Spokespersons Digest, a publication of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and other titles.
The event, themed “Anti‑Corruption Reforms, Economic Stability and Effective Communication,” attracted senior government officials, security chiefs, academics, corporate executives, public relations practitioners and journalists.
Neliaku presented the Personality of the Year Award for Anti‑Corruption Reforms to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, who delivered the keynote lecture.
The NIPR President praised Aliyu for his address, which illustrated how corruption undermines Nigeria’s economic, social, cultural and political progress. “What (the speech) you have given us is development communication, and that is where we should be going as a nation in search of development,” he noted.
Neliaku said communication must go beyond information dissemination to providing direction, creating value and contributing to national progress. “Once our communication is not relevant, then we don’t carry value. One area that gives value is communicating development,” he added.
Corruption, he argued, has become pervasive across virtually every sphere of national life and must remain central to Nigeria’s growth agenda: “Corruption affects the economy, the cultural economy, the social economy and the political economy. It has become a culture that we must fight.”
Neliaku further commended Aliyu for demonstrating that the anti‑corruption fight can yield substantial outcomes, saying the lessons from his presentation would be particularly valuable in shaping anti‑corruption messaging for young citizens.
IMPR Chief Executive Officer, Yushau A. Shuaib, described the lecture and awards as platforms for promoting informed national discourse, recognising excellence and strengthening professional communication in Nigeria.
Shuaib unveiled two new books, “MNI versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying” and “AI in Crisis Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.” The latter—shortlisted for the 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards—examines the growing role of AI in media verification, fact‑checking, institutional response and public trust during crises.
The ceremony featured the presentation of awards to individuals and institutions with outstanding contributions to strategic communication, public service and national development. Hakama Sidi‑Ali, spokesperson of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), won the Outstanding Spokesperson in the Banking Sector Award for the third consecutive year.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs (Crisis Communicator of the Year); Celestine Achi, AI expert and communications strategist (Author/Scholar of the Year); and Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, Print and Digital Communications Assistant to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum (Digital Communication Award).
Integrated Indigo Limited was named PR Agency of the Year; Andy Odeh of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) won the Corporate Communication Award; Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) received the Knowledge Hub Award, while the NIPR Kaduna Chapter won the Event Management Award.
Folusho Adeogun of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) won the Young Communicator Award, Basheer Lukman of Kwara Express emerged Social Media Influencer of the Year, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was recognised in the Public Affairs category.
COURTESY: Independent
