The ongoing advocacy by the Kogi State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has received further boost with a visit to the Kogi state Head of Service, Hajiya Falilat Yusuf Musa who reiterated the need for professionalism and mandatory continuous professional development by Public Relations practitioners in the state.

Speaking during the visit, led by the Chairman of the Kogi state chapter of the NIPR, Ismaila Isah, the Head of Service insisted that training and retraining of Information Officers as well as Public Relations Officers across Ministries Departments and Agencies in the state was key to optimising performance in compliance with best practices.

She stated that her office was already aware of contemporary developments in the PR practice in Nigeria as she intimated the delegation of steps already taken to be at per with recent trends as directed by office of the Head of Service of the federation.

Hajiya Falilat underscored the growing influence of the PR function within government, stating that the PRO in her office occupies a strategic position, sitting in management meetings and playing key roles in shaping management communications.

She therefore pledged her full support to the NIPR and advised every information in the state to avail themselves of the opportunities inherent in the NIPR by registering with the institute while upscaling their capacity.

Earlier the state Chairman of the NIPR, Ismaila Isah noted that the advocacy was part of a broader push to strengthen professional PR practice across public and private institutions in Kogi while growing the Institute’s membership base.

Isah appealed to the state Head of Service to champion the caderization of information officers in MDAs to Information/Public Relations Officers and also ensure sponsorship of Public Relations Officers in the state at national NIPR events.

The NIPR Chairman commended the Kogi HOS for her reforms since assumption of office which he said had put the state civil service on a high pedestal.