Practicing PR without certification may attract jail term — NIPR

Wednesday, January 15, 2025 - The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, has declared that practicing public relations under any guise without NIPR certification is a criminal offense, punishable by fine, imprisonment, or both.

NIPR National President Dr Ike Neliaku disclosed this while speaking at a national press conference and investiture of Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi as patron of the institute at Sir Ahmadu Bello Hall, Dutse.

Dr Neliaku provided the context for the NIPR authority, saying: “The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, was established in 1963. The body attained the status of a Chartered Institute in June 1990 through Decree No. 15 (now an Act of the National Assembly, cited as CAP N114 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004), from which it derives the power and responsibility to register members, set parameters of knowledge to acquire to qualify to practise, regulate the practice and development of the PR profession, as well as monitor professional conduct through the established Code of Ethics, among others.

“The law stipulates standard academic and professional qualifications required for admission into the institute as the sole regulator of public relations practice in Nigeria, the institute supervised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.”

Neliaku stated that public relations is now a recognised profession within the public service at the federal, state, and local government levels.

“If you are practising PR under any act or name, under any circumstance, and you are not certified by NIPR, if you are found, you will be prosecuted, and when found guilty, you will be fined, jailed, or a combination of the two,” he affirmed.

He explained that the NIPR Council was present in Jigawa State to recognise and honour Governor Namadi’s significant achievements in promoting food security within the country.

Upon receiving the award, Governor Namadi expressed his gratitude to the NIPR president and its members for the recognition. He affirmed that agriculture is a key component of his administration’s 12-point agenda, emphasising the crucial role of food security in national development. Governor Namadi dedicated the Diamond Prize For Excellence to the people of Jigawa State in recognition of their support and cooperation.