NIPR Enugu Declares Reputation Management A National Imperative

The Enugu State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has declared reputation management and strategic communication as national priorities, stressing their importance in restoring public trust and strengthening institutions amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic, security, and governance challenges.

At a high-level engagement session hosted at the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) headquarters, public relations experts, government officials, and industry leaders examined how weak communication culture, inconsistent service delivery, and misinformation are undermining national development.

MD/CEO of MainPower Electricity Distribution Company, Dr. Ernest Mupwaya, said clear and proactive communication is essential to the success of the Electricity Act 2023, describing it as one of the country’s most transformative reforms.

He warned that miscommunication and growing public mistrust must be addressed urgently and disclosed that the company is intensifying stakeholder engagement to close information gaps.

Keynote speaker Prof. Silba Ifeanyichukwu Uzochukwu noted that reputational crises often stem from internal organisational failures, including poor leadership and weak accountability systems. He stressed that vision and values must be “known, lived, and verifiable.”

NIPR Enugu Chairman, Dr. Ilo Faustinus Chinedu, linked Nigeria’s reputational decline to recurring crises and misinformation, insisting that only certified PR professionals should manage public communication in government institutions. This, he said, is essential to curb quackery and rebuild trust.

Participants called for standardised reputation management frameworks, stronger crisis-communication structures, and a statewide “Rebuild Trust Campaign” to promote transparency and citizen engagement. They also urged full implementation of the new Information and Public Relations Officer cadre and expanded capacity-building collaboration across government, academia, and industry.

The forum featured an electricity safety session and contributions from senior officials including the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Ifeanyi Onah; FRCN Enugu Zonal Director, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze; and other PR and industry leaders.

NIPR Enugu pledged to sustain action through training programmes, institutional partnerships, and continued advocacy for professionalised public communication across all sectors.