The new executive committee of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has pledged to deliver “bigger and better PRCAN that articulates and serves the overall best interest of members in key areas of advocacy, professionalism and support for growth of PR business.”

Led by Mr. Chido Nwakanma of Blueflower Limited as President, the new team assumed office October 19. Members of the team saddled with the responsibility of running PRCAN until 2014 include Mr. John Ehiguese of Mediacraft Associates, Vice President; Mr. Muyiwa Akintunde, Leap Communications, General Secretary; Mr. Tola Odusote, CMC Connect, Assistant General Secretary; and Mr. Israel Jaiye-Opayemi,Chain Reactions Limited, Publicity Secretary. The two past presidents, Mr. Emeka Maduegbuna and Dr. Phil Osagie are ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.

The executive emerged at the second Annual General Meeting of PRCAN held at Hotel 1960 Eagles Park in Ikeja. Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Registrar Dr. Steve Adebayo observed the elections.

Nwakanma articulated the vision of the team at a post-election presentation to members. He said the executive would build the PRCAN house on four pillars of advocacy, professionalism, structure and administration and capacity building.

According to the new PRCAN president, “deliberate policy actions and legislation have underpinned growth of professions; Public Relations needs policy and legislative support to grow.” As such, PRCAN would adopt advocacy visits to key government officials at Federal, State and Local Government levels to raise awareness and the right policy environment that would create jobs for member firms. The visits would also enable these key stakeholders realise as well as implement the law.

PRCAN is a creation of a bye law of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. It groups together agencies that render public relations consultancy services. By the NIPR Act, only persons registered with NIPR are eligible to practise public relations in Nigeria. For companies, only those registered with PRCAN, whose key executives must be members of NIPR, are eligible to offer public relations services and earn income for it.

Nwakanma spoke of job advocacy visits to institutions and bodies such as the Nigerian Stock Exchange, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and similar bodies.

The new PRCAN executive committee pledged to build the training programme of the association into a strong Public Relations Masterclass brand. They would also introduce the Sterling Reputation Awards to recognise and reward best practise in public relations by companies, governments as well as PR firms, as well as increase awareness and relevance of public relations in organisational management and governance.

Participants at the well-attended PRCAN AGM in key resolutions asked the new Executive Committee to empanel committees and take action to ensure standardisation of public relations practise in Nigeria, map out size, structure and future of public relations practice in Nigeria.

Photo, L-R: Odusote, Jaiye-Opayemi, Akintunde, Nwakanma, Ehiguese, Phil Osagie, Maduegbuna.