- New helmsman promises welfare, professional excellence, stronger visibility
The Head of Corporate Relations at the New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC), Mal. Mohammed Abdullahi, has emerged as the new Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Abdullahi was elected at the Chapter’s Annual General Meeting and election held on Saturday at Stonehedge Hotel, Kaduna, where he took over from the immediate past Chairman, Mal. Haroun Malami.
The election ushered in a new Executive Committee with a mandate to consolidate the gains of the outgoing administration and further reposition the Chapter for greater professional impact, stronger member engagement and increased visibility.
The AGM was held alongside the maiden Bashir Adamu Chedi Annual Memorial Lecture, instituted in honour of the late former Chairman and Council Member of NIPR. The lecture, themed “Bridging Generations: Strengthening Public Relations Through Mentorship,” was delivered by renowned public relations practitioner and Chairman/CEO of Public Relations Consultant of Nigeria (PRCAN), Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, FNIPR.
The event attracted an impressive gathering of senior government officials, leading communication professionals, captains of industry and members of the diplomatic and business communities.
Among those in attendance were the Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, FNIPR; the representative of the Kaduna State Governor and Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Ahmed Maiyaki; Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mal. Abdulhamid Dembos; Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mal. Jibrin Ndace, FNIPR; Director-General of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mal. Ali M. Ali; the President and Chairman of Council of NIPR, represented by the Vice President, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura; former Vice President of NIPR,Dr. Mohammed A.Haruna, FNIPR; Alhaji Ahmed Sajor, FNIPR; Registrar of NIPR, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue, FNIPR, as well as other government officials and industry leaders.
The election was supervised by Professor Dandaura, Alhaji Sajor and Chief Onyegbadue, who also administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected officers.
Speaking at the occasion, the NIPR Registrar charged the new leadership to uphold the Institute’s professional ethics and values and to deploy Public Relations more strategically in advancing development and strengthening public confidence in institutions.
In his acceptance speech, Abdullahi pledged to run an inclusive, transparent and development-driven administration, promising to make members’ welfare and professional advancement central to his leadership.
He said his administration would focus on capacity building, continuous professional development, members’ welfare, financial sustainability, strategic stakeholder engagement and enhanced visibility of the Institute across Kaduna State.
The new Chairman expressed appreciation to members for entrusting him with the responsibility and paid tribute to those who had contributed to his professional and leadership development.
He specifically acknowledged the mentorship of the immediate past Chairman, Mal. Haroun Malami, the Managing Director/CEO of Valuechain Group, Alh. Musa Bashir Usman FNIPR and Mal. Abdulaziz Abdullahi, describing their guidance as instrumental to his journey.
Abdullahi also called on members to rally behind the new Executive Committee, stressing that the success of the Chapter would depend on collective commitment, professional solidarity and active participation by members.
He further appealed to members to ensure the prompt payment of their National and Chapter dues, noting that financial sustainability was critical to the Chapter’s ability to deliver quality programmes, support members andfulfil its professional mandate.
THE NEW LEADERSHIP
The newly elected Executive Committee is made up of:
Mal. Mohammed Abdullahi — Chairman
Wing Commander Bassey Okon rtd — Vice Chairman
Mr. Adeleke Saheed — Secretary
Mr. Zakari Jamilu Muhammad — Assistant Secretary
Miss Latifah Isma’il — Public Relations Executive
Mrs. Mercy Eyum — Financial Secretary
Mrs. Nancy Awuni Audu — Treasurer
Mrs. Asma’u Isyaku Gwamna — Welfare Executive
Mr. Mohammed Shettima — Auditor
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
Alhaji Musa Bashir Usman, FNIPR
Mr. Haroun Malami, MNIPR
Alhaji Abdulazeez Abdullahi, FNIPR
The new administration takes charge at a time when the Public Relations profession is assuming an increasingly strategic role in governance, business, reputation management and national development.SignedMiss Latifah Isma’ilPublic Relations ExecutiveNigerian Institute of Public Relations, Kaduna State Chapter
