The Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olumide Sogunle has lauded the election of the Director of Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr. Olanrewaju Bajulaiye as a member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Governing Council.
Bajulaiye, a former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Information Chapter, emerged as a Council member at the 2023 NIPR’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in Abuja, recently with the theme: “Leadership, Public Relations and Value Creation.”
Sogunle described the election of a state government employee into the NIPR council as a recognition of the contribution of Public Affairs Officers in the State Public Service, especially those within the Lagos State Public Service to the development of Public Relations practice in the country.
The Permanent Secretary enjoined Bajulaiye and other newly elected council members of the image-making profession to exemplify professionalism at its best, saying that the professional has a lot of responsibility for how Nigeria is perceived before other countries of the world.
He averred that Public Relations practitioners in the public sector and their private sector counterparts must work together as one indivisible body committed to reputation and image management of the government within and outside the country.
According to him, “Government Agencies and communication professionals now more than ever require one another to integrate further and obfuscate the boundaries between diversity, expertise and experience”.
Sogunle said that collaboration is essential for public relations professionals to be influential and develop long-lasting careers.
Speaking on his election, Bajulaiye said that his election into the national body of NIPR was made possible by the quality leadership displayed by the management of the Ministry of Information and Strategy and the support of his colleagues who mobilised themselves to take part in the election.
He promised not to disappoint the Ministry in particular and the State Government as a whole but would instead contribute to positive changes concerning the Institute and join hands with others to lead the body in accordance with global best practices.
Bajulaiye commended Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for providing leadership that encouraged the State’s workforce to strive for the best and also participate actively in the affairs of their respective professional bodies.
He maintained that Mr Governor has over the years supported every staff who strives for excellence and quality representation at all levels, especially in their chosen profession and career.
It should be noted that this is the first time a serving Public Affairs Officer will be appointed as a council member of the NIPR Governing council after the last occupier, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr Sina Thorpe.
