During one’s professional journey, there are moments that forcefully remind you why you chose the path you did. Last Tuesday in Calabar was one of those moments for me.
Last Tuesday, I had a ringside seat at the beautifully choreographed investiture of His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, Governor of Cross River State, as a Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. I left the Government House, Calabar, that evening, walking a little taller, prouder than ever for being a Member of this Institute.
It began with the arrival of members of the Cross River State Chapter of NIPR at the Government House, gathered in warm anticipation to receive the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, and other distinguished members of the Governing Council, and other esteemed members, including the former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke. Colourful ceremonial gowns, each symbolising a different status within the Institute, were distributed, instantly transforming the gathering into something that felt purposeful, professional, and majestic.
What followed was a procession, conducted in reverse order, as tradition demands, as the President led his Council Members through the corridors of power into the expansive Executive Council Chambers. The Deputy Governor and senior state executives were already seated. The room was ready. And when Governor Otu took his place and the Master of Ceremonies announced the formal commencement, something in the atmosphere shifted – this was no ordinary event.
After the State and National Anthems, the introductions began. The Institute’s Director of Public Relations, Stanley Ogadigo, took on the task of introducing the NIPR delegation, and he did so with such elegance and precision that even those already familiar with the Institute seemed to lean in. It was during this introduction that I learned, to my admiration, that Dr. Ike Neliaku has visited over 75 countries, a testament to the global stature of the man leading an Institute that is itself becoming increasingly global in its reach and relevance.
When the President rose to speak, he opened by recognising Governor Otu as a humanist, a leader genuinely loved by his people. He applauded the Governor’s commitment to quality service delivery, noting that his human-centered projects spanning education, agriculture, roads, security, and critical infrastructure speak the language of true leadership capacity. Then came a line that lingered in the room long after it was spoken: “When leaders understand the power of relationships, conflict will cease because you will know what to say. Responsible communication is very critical.” In twenty words, Dr. Neliaku had captured one of the philosophies of the profession we serve.
The Registrar, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue, then rose, with the quiet authority of someone who knows exactly what he is doing and why. He stated, with the precision of a seasoned lawyer, that under the provisions of the NIPR Act CAP N114, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, governors in each state of the federation are designated as Patrons of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and that only the President and Chairman of the Institute hold the authority to conduct such an investiture. The weight of that mandate was palpable.
When invited to make the case for the Governor’s investiture, the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter, Dr. Augustine Mboso, rose and spoke warmly of a governor who listens, a leader whose record of good governance is evidenced by a secured environment and accelerating infrastructural development across the state.
The citation of the Governor followed, he stood throughout, receiving the words with the quiet dignity of a man who understands the significance of the moment. And then, swiftly and ceremonially, the investiture was conducted by Dr. Neliaku.
What happened next was perhaps the most memorable moment of the day. Visibly moved, Governor Otu looked out at the gathering and said words that I believe deserve to be quoted in full: “Your investiture is completely different from others, and the difference is clear. I like what you are doing, and I will be a very active patron because what you are doing is apt and good. For the events you have mentioned, we will participate in all of them. The challenge of manning our reputation gate as a nation is a very serious one, but when you move in as an Institute, and with the caliber of people I am seeing here, the story will change and our nation will be on a path of visible growth.”
He went further, commending NIPR for the establishment of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group, the pioneering of the first University of Public Relations and Leadership, and the historic winning of the hosting rights for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum. A Governor who speaks fluently about reputation management and nation building is a patron worth having.
The day closed with another moment of lasting significance, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cross River NIPR Reputation House, sited within the premises of the Ministries of Information and Environment Headquarters in Calabar, conducted by Governor Out, represented by the Cross River State Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang. Brick by brick, the profession is literally building its presence across the nation.
The story actually began a day earlier. On Monday, the NIPR delegation had been taken on a tour across Calabar, led by the Commissioner for Information, showcasing ongoing and completed projects. Roads are being expanded. Public infrastructure is being rebuilt. Cultural assets are being restored. It was a deliberate effort to align narrative with reality.
In the end, what stood out was simple. Reputation is not built on words alone. It is built on visible action, consistent communication, and credible leadership.
I left Calabar with a renewed sense of what this profession can do when it shows up with purpose, structure, and conviction. NIPR did not just invest a governor with a title that day. It planted a flag in the Executive Council Chambers of a state government, in the heart of a governor who promised to be actively involved, and in the ground where a Reputation House will soon stand.
That is the power of public relations, practiced with intention. And I could not be prouder to be a part of it.
