The Chairman of Abia State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu, has called on practitioners in the state and across the country to prioritise their professional growth as a way of making more impact and playing mentorship role to the younger generation of professionals.
Nwachukwu, a Fellow of the Institute who made the call at the May 2026 General Meeting of the Chapter described members as the driving force behind the growth of the profession, urging them to always strive for steady professional advancement, PRO of the Chapter, Promise Uzoma Okoro said in a statement.
She encouraged them to take advantage of the numerous training opportunities being put in place by the Institute, including the upcoming Executive Membership Class (EMC) scheduled for June 22–25, 2026, as well as the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme slated for June 25 to build their capacity to function better and deliver excellent service to their clients and employers, the release stated further.
“According to her, the increasing goodwill, endorsements, and collaboration being received from critical stakeholders across Abia State and beyond reflect a growing recognition of the important role professional public relations plays in governance, justice administration, leadership, and societal development.
“The Chairman further appreciated the newly inducted members who hosted colleagues to a fellowship gathering as a demonstration of camaraderie and goodwill, describing the initiative as a positive reflection of the growing spirit of unity and professional solidarity within the Chapter.
“She equally encouraged members yet to register for the World Public Relations Forum to take advantage of the extended early bird registration window, stressing that the global event presents enormous opportunities for visibility, networking, collaboration, knowledge exchange, and professional advancement”, Okoro noted.
A delegate at the 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week, Engr. Izuchukwu Onwughara described his experience in Kaduna as a highly enriching and transformative professional gathering. According to him, the conference featured high-calibre speakers and communication experts from different parts of Africa, including South Africa and East Africa.
In a special commendation, the Chapter applauded the Rector of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Christopher Kalu Okoro for sponsoring eight members of staff to attend the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2026, describing the gesture as visionary, commendable, and worthy of emulation by other institutions and organisations.
Some elders of the Chapter who attended the meeting applauded the new leadership for the visible progress recorded within the past few months, commending the administration’s commitment to strengthening the Institute and repositioning the Chapter for greater relevance and impact.
