Delta NIPR AGM sportlights Strategic Communication as Key to Accountable Leadership, National Development
…DOU VC Aghalino, Prof. Obukadata, PR professionals advocate ethical governance, stakeholder engagement, and trust-building for sustainable development
Public relations professionals, academics, and government officials have identified strategic communication as a critical driver of accountable leadership and sustainable national development, stressing that rebuilding public trust remains essential to Nigeria’s democratic and socioeconomic progress.
The consensus emerged at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) Public Lecture of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, held Thursday in Asaba.
The lecture, themed “Leadership, Accountability and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Strategic Intersection of Public Relations for National Repositioning,” drew communication professionals, policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders from across the public and private sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Dennis Osadebay University, Professor Samuel Ovuete Aghalino, described Nigeria as a nation richly blessed with human and natural resources but hampered by governance deficits, weak institutions, and declining public trust.
According to him, Nigeria’s development aspirations will remain difficult to achieve unless governance is anchored on accountability, institutional integrity, and active citizen participation.
Professor Aghalino challenged public relations practitioners to move beyond traditional publicity roles and embrace their evolving responsibilities as strategic advisers, ethical communicators, and development partners capable of strengthening governance and fostering national cohesion.
He emphasized that governance must be stakeholder-driven, with citizens actively engaged in policy processes through transparent and inclusive communication.
“If leadership failure is a disease, strategic communication is part of the cure,” he stated.
He added that modern public relations has evolved into a strategic governance function that enhances transparency, builds confidence in public institutions, and improves policy acceptance.
Also speaking, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southern Delta University, Professor Presley Obukadata, said Nigeria’s path to sustainable development lies not only in sound public policy but also in ethical leadership, accountable institutions, and strategic communication that fosters trust between government, organisations, and citizens.
He noted that governments and institutions now operate in an environment shaped by rising public expectations, rapid digital transformation, and the growing threat of misinformation.
According to him, communication professionals must increasingly serve as strategic advisers who facilitate dialogue, manage reputation, strengthen institutional credibility, and build mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders.
Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Delta State Bureau for State Pensions, Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, described the lecture as timely and thought-provoking, expressing confidence that the quality of presentations and discussions would enrich public discourse on leadership, accountability, and sustainable development.
He said the insights generated at the forum would contribute to strengthening democratic governance, promoting ethical leadership, and reinforcing public confidence in institutions.
In his goodwill message, Governing Council member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Director-General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Hon. Patrick Ukah, urged public relations practitioners to remain committed to understanding public perception and effectively communicating the intentions of the institutions and leaders they serve.
He stressed that professional communicators must continually assess public opinion and ensure government policies and organisational decisions are communicated in ways that inspire confidence, promote understanding, and strengthen stakeholder relationships.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Delta State Chapter of NIPR, Mr. Godfrey C. Osakwe, FNIPR, said the public lecture was designed to stimulate meaningful conversations capable of advancing responsible leadership, strengthening accountability, and restoring citizens’ confidence in governance.
He noted that sustainable development cannot thrive in an environment lacking transparency and accountability, describing public relations as a strategic bridge between government and the governed.
“Nigeria’s journey toward sustainable development begins where leadership embraces accountability and public relations becomes the bridge between governance and the trust of the people,” he said.
Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the AGM, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta NIPR Chapter and Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. (Barr.) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said the theme reflects the evolving role of public relations from a publicity-driven function to a strategic management discipline increasingly shaping governance, policy communication, and national development.
According to him, contemporary public relations practice places greater emphasis on stakeholder engagement, transparency, accountability, and trust-building, making the theme particularly relevant to Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.
Dr. Oghenesivbe further noted that the theme aligns with emerging trends positioning public relations as a catalyst for sustainable development through ethical communication, crisis management, citizen participation, and behavioural change initiatives.
He explained that effective leadership is no longer measured solely by policy formulation but also by the ability to communicate transparently, inspire public confidence, and sustain trust through continuous engagement with citizens.
“Public relations has become indispensable to good governance because it promotes openness, strengthens institutional credibility, and encourages citizens’ participation in the development process. Strategic communication is now a critical tool for building trust, managing reputation, and advancing sustainable socioeconomic development,” he said.
A major highlight of the 2026 AGM was the presentation of the Delta NIPR Award for Excellence in Leadership to Professor Presley Obukadata in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the advancement of public relations and advertising in Nigeria.
Professor Obukadata, a renowned scholar in brand management, strategic communication, and media studies, received the award on behalf of the chapter from Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe following a training session held on June 24 at the Press Centre, Government House, Asaba.
The AGM public lecture attracted public relations practitioners, communication scholars, government officials, media professionals, and development stakeholders, who engaged in robust discussions on the future of strategic communication and its role in promoting accountable leadership and national development.
