The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, has called for concerted efforts from all relevant stakeholders especially in the area of value reorientation to repaired the country’s image.
These were the views of stakeholders and participants at the just concluded 2024 Conference/ Annual General Meeting and O.B Fubara Memorial Gold Paper Lecture with the theme, ” Rebuilding National Reputation Through Business and Public Trust,” held in Port Harcourt last Thursday.
The body said building national reputation requires total commitment to value reorientation, noting that if there’s no integrity, there would not be reputation.
It recommended that, “We must ensure a complete paradigm shift by embracing attitudinal change which entails consistency of actions and outcomes by imbibing care and respect for established and morally acceptable norms.
“To successfully rebuild national reputation, security agencies must prioritize the protection of lives and property of citizens in Rivers state, as this is essential for fostering public private partnership that will drive economic development and build public trust among residents and potential investors.
“To restore national reputation, leaders both in private and public sectors must acknowledge their shortcomings, align their actions with their statements and establish a strong feedback mechanism that will serve as a monitoring and evaluation scheme. This will enhance accountability and transparency.
” To achieve the onerous task of rebuilding our national reputation through business integrity and public trust, we must imbibe the culture of getting it right and ensure that such standards and approach are not corrupted down the line”.
In his Keynote address at the event, Joe Johnson, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications stated that leaders in all strata of society must not only possess the essential qualities of integrity, reputation and trust worthiness in all their activities, but must be people of impeccable character who are above board.
He said that the huge challenge of rebuilding the country’s battered national reputation requires action by everyone.
On his part, His Royal Majesty, Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, Eze Upata 111 of Upata Kingdom who chaired the event called on the federal government to address banditry and cultism inorder to redeem the image of the nation.
He decried the current political crisis in the state which has painted it in a negative light and pleaded with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to give the institute a chance to intervene.
The traditional ruler posited that it is the responsibility of all to protect the reputation of Rivers state and Nigeria at large.
Earlier in his remarks, Rev Francis Asuk, chairman of Rivers State chapter of NIPR stated that reputation requires management therefore, stakeholders and citizens must be engaged to promote relationships building.
