Every journalist must register & be a member of Nigerian institute of public relations–Jibrin Ndache, Director-General, VON

Voice of Nigeria (VON) Director General, Jibrin Baba Ndache at the weekend urged every journalist in the country to be a registered member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), noting that the professional body positions and creates opportunities for the media practitioners.

Jibrin Baba Ndache, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), has called on journalists across the country to become registered members of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

He highlighted that the professional body plays a pivotal role in positioning and creating opportunities for media practitioners.

He spoke at “Meet the President Dinner,” the institute organized in Abuja.

Narrating his journey to success, he revealed: “NIPR is one of the institutes that made me.”

He recalled how he started as the Personal Assistant to a minister when he was the two-term chairman of the Kaduna chapter.

Jibrin added: “From there, I have never looked back from membership of NIPR, NUJ and other professional bodies.”

He admonished the journalists to stop postponing their registration to when they retire.

“I like to advise our colleagues that we shouldn’t wait until we are close to retirement of this career to join NIPR.

“In fact, every journalist should be an NIPR member from day one because it positions you as a person, it creates opportunities for you as an individual.”

Ndache explained that some of the journalists who equipped themselves with public relations membership are not stranded in retirement.

He cited Malam Yishua Shaibu, a retired public servant, as now a shining example in the industry, owing to his PR skills and institute membership.

The director general, who sought the repositioning of the institute, insisted that it should not relate with people like a helpless professional organization.

According to him, the institute has to make itself attractive.

He dropped the hint that every VON member of staff is now warming up to become a registered member of the institute.

As the Director General of VON, he vowed to build on the legacy of his predecessor.

He pledged to deliver on the mandate of the organization: to tell the Nigerian and African story.

According to him, he and his management team will perform the role without being apologetic.

He added that the team will be forceful and believable.

He said: “Finally, you know I am not speaking here in my capacity. I am speaking as the Director General of Voice of Nigeria.

“With the kind permission of senior colleagues and Mr. President, (Dr. Ike Neliaku), I like to assure you that as Director General of Voice of Nigeria, I am going to build on the legacy of all the past Director Generals and indeed work on the mandate of the organization which is to tell Nigerian and African story.

“And in doing that with the management team, we are not going to be apologetic. We are going to be forceful. We are going to be truthful. We are going to be believable, we are going to be deliberate. We are not going to shy away from telling Nigeria’s story because nobody will do it for us.”

He sought the support of the institute for VON and the Ministry of Information to succeed.

Ndache said: “The era of being apologetic about who you are as a Nigerian is over. As Director General, Voice of Nigeria, wherever I have the opportunity we are going to talk about Nigeria and Nigerians because we will not allow few, inconsequential numbers to create misinformation and disinformation about our country and put very patriotic Nigerians who do their daily business when they want to travel at the airport, they are treated shabbily because of some inconsequential number.

“This is not achievable without the support of us Nigeria, particularly stakeholders like the NIPR. We are not taking the support granted. I am also requesting that the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture and Orientation succeed. For me as Director General of Voice of Nigeria to succeed, and for our other colleagues to create the right narrative about Nigeria and Africa, we require the support of all the stakeholders, particularly the NIPR. We must not give up, particularly for people who don’t mean well for our country, some are in this country, some are outside and they are eager to tell fake news and misinformation about our country.”