NIPR President Announces University of Public Relations to Be Built on Donated Land in Nasarawa
April 17, 2025 | Abuja, Nigeria— Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has announced that the proposed University of Public Relations and Leadership will be built on 100 hectares of land donated by the Nasarawa State Government.
The announcement was made during the just-concluded Second Nigeria Spokespersons’ Summit (NSS), held in Abuja under the theme “Integrity and the Evolving Roles of Spokespersons in Leadership Communication.”
Dr. Neliaku disclosed that the Institute is working in partnership with the Global Alliance for Public Relations, the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Nasarawa State Government, and the Leadership Advancement Foundation to establish what is expected to be the world’s first university dedicated to public relations and leadership.
“Governor Abdullahi Sule has graciously provided us with the land required to commence this historic project. The university is set to begin operations in 2026,” said Dr. Neliaku.
Strategic Public Sector Collaborations
He also extended appreciation to the Governors of Jigawa and Nasarawa States for their support of two flagship initiatives. The Jigawa State Government is partnering with NIPR on the REBIRTH Nigeria project—a professional, private-sector-led initiative aimed at supporting the National Orientation Agency through values reorientation, civic education, service excellence, and the promotion of locally made goods and services.
“These partnerships are redefining how strategic communication can be deployed to build national cohesion, accountability, and citizen engagement,” he noted.
Federal Government to Launch UNESCO Media Literacy Institute
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mallam Mohammed Idris, revealed that the Federal Government is finalising plans to launch the UNESCO Media and Information Literacy (MIL) Institute, also the first of its kind globally. It will be located within the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.
“The MIL Institute will combat misinformation and restore public trust in government communications. We’re at an advanced stage with UNESCO, following strategic discussions in Paris,” Idris disclosed.
He further announced the recent caderisation of Public Relations as a standalone cadre in the Federal Civil Service, which formally came into effect in December 2023. The previous “Information Officer Cadre” has now been re-designated as “Information and Public Relations Officer Cadre” and “Executive Officer (Information and Public Relations).”
Fellowship Honours Best in Class
The event also served as a platform to confer the Fellowship of the Institute on select eminent Nigerians, including:
- Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Dr. John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Media Group
- Chief John Nnia Nwodo, Former Minister of Information
Their contributions to the field of communication and public leadership were recognised as outstanding, with Dr. Neliaku emphasising that both professional and honorary fellowships of the Institute are awarded strictly based on merit.
Distinguished guests at the summit included Chief Segun Osoba, former Governor of Ogun State and keynote speaker; former Ministers of Information, including Prof. Jerry Gana, Labaran Maku, Frank Nweke Jr., Chief Nnia Nwodo, and Alhaji Lai Mohammed; and representatives from international diplomatic missions such as Mr. Gilbert Morton, Press Attaché of the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
