Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), has elected a new team of executive to pilot the affairs of the association for the next two years. The election took place during the association’s 2019 Annual General Meeting recently in Lagos.
The newly elected executive members include Jaiye Israel Opayemi who is now the President of the association representing Chains Reaction; Vice President, Adedayo Ojo of Caritas PR; Secretary General, Tokunbo George-taylor from Hill + Knowlton Nigeria; Assistant Secretary, Martha Okpeke from Mediacraft Associates; Treasurer, Raheem Olabode from CMC Connect and Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abimbola, representing Integrated Indigo Limited.
Delivering his inaugural speech, the newly elected President, Israel Jaiye Opayemi, has assured that the Public
Relations ecosystem would be reformed in a bid to accord the profession its deserved rightful place of honour in the league of other noble professions in Nigeria. He vowed that it would no longer be business as usual for unqualified Public Relations practitioners whom he said are tarnishing the reputation of the profession through unwholesome practices.
Opayemi decried a situation where the Public Relations profession in Nigeria has become a ‘Banana Republic’ of sorts where anything goes.
He stated further that, unlike other professions like Medicine, Law, Accounting and even Advertising, Public Relations in Nigeria is one profession in which the barriers to entry seem to be lower as “practically just anybody can wake up and call himself or herself a ‘PR Consultant’”.
He further assured that PRCAN was committed to take on the task of fostering an environment that enables business growth for PRCAN member-firms through his vision and mission statement anchored on seven pillars: Clearer Identity, Stronger Legislation, Stricter Enforcement, Increased Revenue, Better Value, Fair Trade as well as Professional Dignity.
Opayemi also pledged PRCAN’S readiness to offer the professional assistance of its member-firms to the Federal Government of Nigeria in crafting a response strategy and a campaign plan to help the positive story about Nigeria as well as shape the current low perception. Earlier in his valedictory speech, the immediate past President of PRCAN, John Ehiguese, highlighted quackery and non-compliance with set standards as top among the challenges faced by the PR industry in Nigeria, stating that the onus is on PR professionals to come together to stem the tide
