NIPR, NIWA to Facilitate PR Maritime Hub
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has sought the support of the Nigeria Inland Waterway Authority (NIWA) towards the establishment of PR Maritime Hub in Lagos.
The President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, made the request during a courtesy call on the Managing Director of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, in Abuja.
Neliaku said the Nigeria’s maritime sector is critical to national development because of the off-shore and onshore economic activities that take place in the industry.
He pointed out that the maritime sector is an overlooked and under-explored goldmine with its enormous potential to drive economic growth if adequate awareness is created through public relations.
Dr. Neliaku described Dr Moghalu as a PR guru and one of the oldest practitioners in the country, having put about 40 years into the profession.
The NIPR boss therefore urged his NIWA counterpart to partner with Institute in the coordinated efforts to promote and project a positive image for Nigeria in the international community.
In his remarks, Chief Moghalu congratulated Neliaku on his recent election and brilliant initiatives which are geared towards moving the profession forward.
While welcoming the idea of Maritime PR hub, he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy which can serve as a key engine of economic development in line with the diversification agenda of the administration.
He noted that the proposed maritime PR Hub, if properly instituted, can create awareness on maritime issues towards realising its potential and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
“The potential inherent in the maritime sector, if well harnessed and explored, can earn the nation more revenue than oil and gas.
“We have a gift of nature, over 10,000 kilometers of inland waterways. Though about 3,650 km is unnavigable, we can access 28 of our 36 states by water. So if we develop our inland waterways, we can access various communities, towns and move goods on water via cargo instead of roads.
“By developing those channels, it will facilitate new infrastructural facilities like jetties and ports ramps. New towns can even spring up apart from the tourism potential,” he added.
The President later presented NIPR Summit Report “Rebooting Nigeria 2.0” and his book “7 Conspiracies of Power” to Dr Moghalu.
Neliaku was accompanied on the courtesy visit by Vice President NIPR, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, some Governing Council members and senior PR practitioners.
