By Dele Ogbodo
It was trailblazing tributes for the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoSF), Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, from respected Nigerians from all walks of life as she was conferred with an Honourary Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), on Tuesday by the President /Chairman of Council NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku.
The outing Head of Service of the federation bagged the award because of her commitment, visionary leadership, and giant strides towards restructuring the Federal Civil Service into a world class service for national development and service delivery.
Yemi-Esan, received the honorary fellowship at the public lecture held in commemoration of 2024 World Public Relations Day on Tuesday 23 July, in Abuja, with the theme “The Future of Public Relations in a Changing World: Journey in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service.”
While thanking the President of NIPR and Members of the Governing Council for the honour, she however few debunked few misinformation and perception about the Service, affirming that the Service under her watch has moved from where it was years ago in terms of inclusivity, reforms, and digital transformation.
She congratulated NIPR on its recent diamond jubilee celebration which she says signifies decades of regulating and building the capacity of Public Relations practitioners in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to her: “If you don’t tell your story someone else will” this only underscores the importance of information and image management within the sphere of corporate governance at all levels.
She noted that in the course of her public service career, she has been able to appreciate very laudable interventions of Government at various levels of implementation, but one recurring factor that waters down the visibility of public appreciation of what is been done is the failure to effectively tell the story.
“This is why the practice of public relations should never be a profession of all sorts but should remain professional and grounded by contemporary ethics,” she opined.
The HoSF applauded the guest lecturers’ insight on professionalisation of Public Relations, especially the effect of digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence (AI), which are also areas she have been advocating, going forward.
She also acknowledged the forthrightness of the leadership of the NIPR led by one of the nation’s finest in the realm of Information Management Dr. Ike Neliaku. She appreciated him for walking the talk and ensuring that the highest level of professionalism is being driven in this critical aspect of governance in Nigeria.
Yemi-Esan, commended the proactive nature of the NIPR President and his team for presenting a very innovative memo to the last National Council on Establishment to transform the nomenclature of the Information Officer cadre in the Federal Civil Service and, indeed, the states Civil Service to Information and Public Relations Cadre.
She further stated that the Federal Civil Service recognises the importance of effective and responsible communication. “We have been able to do a lot in collaboration with our private sector partners to create a framework for communicating our programmes and activities in addition to the feedback mechanism for our internal and external public,” she added.
While dedicating her Award to God, she also appreciated the role played by hardworking civil servants who have in no small measure contributed to the notable strides everybody has been talking about, stating that “it hasn’t been a one man show, I have had very hardworking people around me to ensure the success.” She urged NIPR to continue to partner with the service to drive transformation.
She was joined by the Permanent Secretaries in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Ministry of Information and National Orientation and Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace to receive the Fellowship Award.
Chairman Senate Committee on Capital Market, Senator Osita Izunaso, in his opening remarks appreciated the HoSF for emplacing the practice of Public Relations in the Civil Service.
He stated that the House is working on the amendment of NIPR moribund charter to reflect world best practice.
The NIPR President while appreciating the HoSF for seeing to the Cadrerization of PR during her tenure, said her commitment, integrity, hard work, and passion for excellence earned her the recognition.
The Keynote Speaker, Otunba Olufemi Oyawale, in his paper presentation said that without Public Relations, there is no life in a fast changing and competitive world. He also highlighted the urgent need for the Government to motivate its Public Relations Officer (PRO) and involve them in decision making processes.
“The days of fire brigade approach to public relations are truly over, this is the era of the articulate, thoroughly professional, well renumerated, ICT skilled and fully involved government PRO,” he added.
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) was established in 1963 and attained a chartered status in 1990 through decree no.16 (now and Act of the National Assembly) from which it derives the power and responsibility to register members, set parameters of knowledge to acquire, qualify to practice, regulate the practice and development of the PR Profession, as well as monitor professional conducts through an established Code of Ethics, amongst others.