Dr. Harvey Igben, the Head of the Mass Communication Department at Delta State University, Abraka, HAS emphasized the pivotal role of Public Relations (PR) in fostering good governance within societies.
Dr Igben who was the guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) PR clinic Session, in Effurun on Thursday, February 8, 2024.
Addressing the audience on the theme “Public Relations for Good Governance,” Dr. Igben underscored the significance of PR in bolstering effective leadership. He elucidated on PR as a strategic communication process aimed at fostering mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their stakeholders.
Expounding upon the characteristics of good governance, Dr. Igben delineated the indispensable elements such as accountability, transparency, adherence to the rule of law, fair electoral practices, cultural diversity, and protection of human rights, asserting that these are fundamental to a functional governmental system.
Furthermore, Dr. Igben stressed the instrumental role of PR professionals in shaping public opinion, nurturing positive perceptions, influencing policy formulation, and cultivating a favorable societal image for the government.
He emphasized that PR practitioners bear the responsibility of instilling public confidence, enhancing public awareness, fostering sustainable democracy, maintaining the government’s public image, fostering responsiveness, and promoting constructive engagement.
However, amidst the discourse on the importance of PR in governance, the guest speaker lamented the impediments posed by issues such as corruption, conflicts, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, economic challenges, and unethical behavior, which pose significant challenges to effective governance.
In a complementary address, Mr. Godfrey Osakwe, the State Chairman of NIPR, echoed Dr. Igben’s sentiments, asserting that PR stands as a cornerstone of public functions, indispensable for any nation’s governance. He warned of the perils of governance without effective PR, suggesting that such oversight could lead to the downfall of leaders.
The event served as a forum for discourse on the critical nexus between PR and governance, underlining the imperative for leveraging strategic communication to foster transparent, accountable, and responsive governance in contemporary society.
