The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has announced plans to convene a Royal Dialogue, on National Reputation and Values Reverse for traditional rulers in the country.
The president and chairman of council of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku made the disclosure on Monday in Uyo, during a Public Relations Stakeholders forum with Royal fathers in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital as part of the activities marking a weeklong NIPR 2025 celebrations.
Neliaku who recalled the important roles played by the royal fathers in the development and Peace building of their communities in the past said there was need to go back to the status quo where they could work in collaboration with government to foster development and peace.
While maintaining that the royal dialogue would restore our reputation as a nation and bring about ideal leadership and development, the president stated that the event would kickstart from Akwa Ibom, where the idea was first mooted and the Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy affairs would be the driving force in partnership with the NIPR.
His words, “From time, it was the Royal fathers that gave direction to leadership, they brought development to their kingdoms before even the government of today came. So, we need to go back to the days where our royal fathers will continue to bring development in partnership with government at the grassroots.
“We are just consulting, we resolved that arising from this event, we are going to convene in partnership with honourable commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, a Royal Dialogue on National reputation and values Reverse. This, we believe is very deserving. we are taking it to the national but we are going to have the first one here in Akwa Ibom as where the idea was initiated.”
The President General, Akwa Ibom Traditional Rulers Council, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, in his remarks commended the NIPR for including the Royal fathers in their event and choosing Akwa Ibom as the host state.
Etuk stated that one of the roles of traditional rulers is to disseminate information particularly of government programmes to the people at the grassroots noting that the partnership with the NIPR would empower them to effectively manage all information for peace and development of their communities.
“Day in day out things are changing, we are no longer analog, systems have changed and we have to change as well and I believe very strongly that today the council will teach us new ways of managing information so that we will be able to pass this information to the people.” He added.
The Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Frank Archibong in his goodwill message revealed that successive governments in Akwa Ibom, had ensured that traditional institutions were made up of educated and enlightened individuals who would understand the dynamics of time.
He said the NIPR was trying to expose the traditional rulers to tools of public relations which when carefully deployed and utilized for grassroots governance, would go a long way in fostering peace and managing crisis.
The resource person, Rev Francis Asuk, said the importance of relationship management skills of traditional rulers would not be overemphasized. He said acquisition of such skills would help them to navigate through difficult situations even as he called for training of traditional rulers on deployment of public relations strategies in dousing of tensions and conflicts in their communities as well as getting things from the government for the welfare and development of their people.
“Royal fathers should be trained on balancing their traditional and modern roles. You must know how to write to compel the government to act in your favor and how to deploy your public relations skills to resolve conflict and douse tension in your kingdoms.’ Asuk said.
