TheCable

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says the federal government and its agencies will work with Nigerian public relations consultants in the execution of its communication projects.

The minister said this when he received a delegation of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) in his office in Abuja.

Mohammed said having been a public relations professional all through his career, lifehe understood the importance of public relations consultancy.

“As for your request that government should involve your members in planning and executing PR campaigns, you are preaching to the converted,” Mohammed said in a statement issued by Israel Jaiye Opayemi, publicity secretary of PRCAN.

“Discussions are on-going on the need to patronise Nigerian PR consultants when planning government campaigns. So, be rest assured on that.

“The foreign consultants got to where they are today because they were given opportunities… the federal government would not but do the right thing.

“We will ensure that PRCAN agencies are given the first right of refusal on any campaign by ministries, department and agencies.”

Appealing to PRCAN member-firms’ sense of volunteerism at the moment, Mohammed pleaded with the association to ensure the relationship between both parties did not end with the visit.

He noted that there were still some process hurdles to be crossed, just as he expressed the hope for a robust long-term relationship with PRCAN.

On his part, John Ehiguese, PRCAN president expressed the readiness of its member-firms to assist the federal government with its numerous policy communication programmes and campaigns.

According to Ehiguese, the primary objective of the visit was to seek how the PRCAN member-firms could contribute their quota to the success of the numerous policy communications programmes and campaigns of the federal government.

“There is no doubt that our country is beset by several challenges. But I’m sure you will agree with me that a large chunk of these challenges can be effectively tackled if there is proper and effective communication,” Ehiguese said.

“That reality alone underscores the importance and centrality of your cabinet portfolio as honourable minister of information and culture.”

The PRCAN president requested that that, henceforth Nigerian PR firms should be seriously considered for communication assignments and be given the opportunity to make inputs at the conception stage of such programmes.

PRCAN is the consulting arm of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) established by the NIPR bye-law No. 3 of 1993.

Membership of the organisation is exclusively restricted to consulting firms whose key executives are members of NIPR and registered to practice public relations in Nigeria.