The Experiencing Public Relations book has been launched by Nigerian Women in PR with speakers and participants restating the importance and need for public relations by all organisations and individuals.
The two-hour virtual experiential event and book launch, which was applauded by industry professionals, students and business executives from several countries including India, Ireland, Ghana, United Arab Emirates and Nigeria, who attended the programme featured knowledge sharing, practical strategy discussion, entertainment and networking sessions.
The Keynote Speaker and Chief Launcher, Omotola Oyebanjo – Head, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Africa and the Middle East, Upfield, in his paper chronicling her journey in PR and lessons learnt noted that “an organisation can lose its brand equity and reputation when public relations professionals don’t work.”
“As PR professionals, we are image builders and we need to build the reputation of the industry and our reputation as people who do good work”, Oyebanjo stated and commended the book on five key points: the resource, the range of professionals who contributed to the book, the quality of content as well as the spread and relevance of the topics for modern-day public relations professionals.
At the panel session moderated by Chineze Amanfo, Lead, Public Relations at 9Mobile, the Co-founder and CEO of MAX.ng, Adetayo Bamiduro, said “many people think that only large organisations need PR. Everybody needs Public Relations, even a two-man organisation.
“PR is critical to help build credibility and trust across the board; with government, clients and others. We have seen that it is critical to open the lines of communications with all our key stakeholders”.
Another panellist, Co-founder and CEO of Purple, Laide Abgoola, said her company has been able to keep our occupancy level to 75% in all the Purple outlets, as well as sell over 90% of the Nano despite launching during the COVID-19 pandemic due to communications and data.
Efeturi Doghudje, Head Marketing and Corporate Communications at VFD Group Plc advised that “It is important for communication efforts to start internally, adding that staff are your internal ambassadors; when they are aware of innovations in the organisation, they will be the first to shout it to everyone externally.”
READ ALSO: SKILLS JOURNALISTS, WRITERS SHOULD LEARN TO MONETISE
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day celebration, the founder of Nigerian Women in PR, Tolulope Olorundero, said the organisation was established to celebrate, provide information and guidance for PR women, especially mid-level professionals, to overcome barriers and challenges that hinder their progress as Public Relations women.
“ We were concerned about the statistics that less than 30% of PR women are c-suites in their organisations or leading PR agencies despite that between 65%-80% entry-level PR professionals are women”.
Olorundero, who is a seasoned PR Consultant, reiterated that Nigerian Women in PR is an independent social impact organisation that fully supports and advocates for membership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR). She, therefore, urged every participant who practices PR in Nigeria to become members of the governing body.
