NIPR Dissolves PRCAN Leadership, Sets Up Revitalization Committee Headed By Nkechi Ali-Balogun
As one of the decisions it reached during its 117th meeting, the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has dissolved the Executive Committee of the Israel Jaiye-Opayemi-led Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), citing tenure elongation and declining performance as part of the reasons for its decision.
The decision which was approved at the institute’s meeting held on December 19, 2024, and officially communicated via a press statement signed by Stanley Ogadigo, NIPR’s Director of Public Relations also cited the need to align the association with the parent institute’s strategic goals.
PRCAN, established under the NIPR Bye-law No. 3 of 1993, is as a regulatory body overseeing public relations consultancy in Nigeria. However, the NIPR expressed concerns about its performance, stating that the dissolution was essential to reinvigorate the association and ensure compliance with contemporary standards of governance and professionalism.
To manage this transition, the Dr. Ike Neliagu led NIPR Council has constituted a Revitalization Committee, tasked with the dual responsibility of overseeing PRCAN’s operations and organizing elections to select a new leadership by April 30, 2025. The committee will be chaired by Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, a Fellow of NIPR and a respected professional in Nigeria’s public relations industry. Other members of the committee include seasoned professionals such as Barr. Karibi George, fnipr; Dr. Ahmad Sajoh, fnipr; Hajia Lami Tumaka, fnipr; Mr. Chido Nwakanma, mnipr; and others. Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, mnipr, will serve as the Member/Secretary.
In its statement, NIPR stated that it has already been communicated to the outgoing PRCAN President, Mr. Israel Jaiye Opayemi, fnipr, through a formal letter dated December 21, 2024. The NIPR expressed gratitude for his contributions to PRCAN and requested his support during the transition period.
Being a new development and something that has never happened in the recent past, stakeholders in the industry have reacted with mixed views. While some see the dissolution as a necessary intervention to address PRCAN’s operational issues, others view it as a wake-up call for stronger governance across and within professional bodies.