The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has admitted 415 new members into its professional fold.

Against this background, its President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, urged the fresh inductees to reject narratives that diminish Nigeria’s image.

However, he said  instead, they should become ethical communicators committed to rebuilding public trust, promoting national unity and advancing responsible leadership.

The colourful second-quarter induction ceremony, held at the Bolingo Xperia Hotel in Abuja, marked another milestone in the institute’s drive to strengthen professionalism within Nigeria’s public relations industry.

The event also featured the institute’s Q2 PR Power Lunch, which examined the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer under the theme, “Advancing Impactful Leadership and Social Cohesion Through Strategic Trust Brokerage.”

This was done a day before the induction and was presented by the keynote speaker, Karena Crerar, the CEO of Edelman Africa.

Meanwhile, presenting the successful candidates, Chairman of the Membership Services Committee, Maryam Sanusi, announced that 415 professionals had met the institute’s admission requirements.

She disclosed that 333 members gained admission through the direct entry route, while 82 others emerged from the Executive Membership Class, bringing the total number of newly inducted members to 415.

Sanusi described the figure as another significant achievement for the institute, stressing that the excitement surrounding the induction extended beyond the numbers.

According to her, the institute was welcoming accomplished professionals who would strengthen ethical public relations practice and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the profession.

Following the presentation of the inductees, the Registrar of the Institute administered the oath of allegiance, officially admitting the new members into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

Addressing the inductees shortly after the oath-taking, Neliaku challenged them to become advocates of hope rather than promoters of pessimism.

He insisted that communication professionals occupy a strategic position in shaping public confidence and influencing national development.

The president maintained that public relations extends beyond image management.

Moreso, he explained that practitioners must deliberately foster trust, strengthen institutions and encourage peaceful coexistence through responsible communication.

Rather than amplifying narratives that portray Nigeria negatively, he urged members to project values capable of inspiring confidence, patriotism and national cohesion.

“Become messengers of hope, ambassadors of patriotism, advocates of unity and carriers of peace,” he charged.

Strengthening his position, Neliaku referenced the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, which he said ranked Nigeria sixth globally in average trust levels with a 72 per cent score, an improvement from its eighth position in 2025.

He noted that the country’s ranking placed it ahead of nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Japan, arguing that the report contradicted long-held perceptions portraying Nigeria as a nation without prospects.

He further revealed that Nigeria ranked second only to Saudi Arabia in optimism about future generations, with 65 per cent of respondents expressing confidence that the next generation would enjoy a better future.

Describing the induction as far more than the award of professional certificates, he reminded the new members that they had accepted a higher responsibility to uphold integrity, ethics and excellence while actively supporting the institute’s programmes, including preparations for the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum and the 37th African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja later this year.

Earlier, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali Mohammed Ali, congratulated the newly admitted members, describing their induction as a defining moment in the evolution of the public relations profession.

He observed that the fresh members were joining the institute at a period when issues surrounding reputation management and public trust dominate public discourse.

Consequently, he urged them to embrace innovation, continuous learning and professional development, adding that the institute remains strategically positioned to drive Nigeria’s reputation renaissance while strengthening confidence in public institutions.

Also speaking, Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Baba Ndace, encouraged the inductees to pursue lifelong learning, noting that ignorance has no place in contemporary public relations practice.

According to him, practitioners must constantly update their knowledge because developments across the globe increasingly shape public perception and institutional credibility.

Similarly, National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, called for stronger collaboration between journalists and public relations professionals.

He explained that both professions share a common responsibility to promote truth, responsible communication and national development, stressing that closer cooperation would further strengthen public confidence in information dissemination.

Adding his voice, former NUJ President and President of the Congress of African Journalists (CAJ), Chief Chris Isiguzo, described the induction as a solemn initiation into one of the most strategic professions in modern society.

He commended the NIPR leadership for consistently raising professional standards and promoting ethical communication across Nigeria and Africa.

Isiguzo further reminded the new members that their certificates represented a covenant with professionalism, integrity and accountability rather than merely a qualification.

He warned that communication without ethics could become destructive, urging the inductees to allow honesty, transparency, empathy and commitment to the public good to guide their professional engagements.

He also advocated stronger partnerships between journalism and public relations, explaining that both professions remain indispensable in combating misinformation, promoting media literacy, strengthening democracy and advancing social cohesion across the African continent.

The induction ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment by the institute to deepen professionalism, reinforce ethical standards and prepare a new generation of public relations practitioners capable of strengthening trust, enhancing institutional credibility and positively shaping Nigeria’s global reputation.