NIPR President, Dr Neliaku, bags Distinguished Leadership award

In recognition of his contributions to the development of exceptional leaders in both the public and private sectors of the nation, Dr. Ike Neliaku, the President of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has been honoured with the prestigious Distinguished Leadership award.

Persecondnews reports that the award was conferred on Neliaku, who is also the Chairman of NIPR Council by the Vice-Chancellor, University of Abuja, Prof. Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah, on behalf of the Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC), a TETFund Centre of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership domiciled in the university.

The award presentation was the high point of the 3rd induction ceremony of 140 masters and doctoral students of the Centre in Abuja on Friday, where Dr. Neliaku spoke as guest lecturer on the topic, “Leadership And Politics: Towards A Paradigm Shift for Africa”.

Neliaku, a leadership development expert and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Prize for Leadership (NPL), an organisation that has been actively involved in training of high quality leaders since its inauguration in 2019, said:”It is time for Africa to seize the moment and reclaim its economic, social and political values”.

According to him, grooming leaders who will change the society requires due attention and investment.

While underlining the need to rebuild trust, Neliaku noted that there is loss of trust between the citizens and the government, elders and young people who believe their future is not properly protected.

There is also distrust in the society, he pointed out.

He, therefore, called for the building of strong and effective system that will ensure leadership questions are properly answered.

He said: “We must build strong and effective systems. Others call it institutions, however, my challenge with institutions is that institutions are manned by people and once people come with bad intentions, they transfer such to the institution.

“So, I go for systems because systems can run themselves if they are properly programmed.”

On his call for all-inclusive governance, Neliaku said beyond women and youths, people with disabilities also ought to be integrated into the country’s scheme of affairs.

The President said that NIPR as a responsible Institute has a responsibility to speak out against societal ills and commend when and where necessary as its allegiance is first to Nigeria as an entity that houses both the government and the people.

Earlier in his remarks, the Director of Abuja Leadership Centre (ALC) and University of Abuja Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Philip Afaha, said even though leadership challenge is a global phenomenon, there is need to begin to address leadership questions in Nigeria.