PUBLIC RELATIONS: A Vital Tool for Good Governance, Asserts Delta State University Department Head
EFFURUN/Nigeria: Dr. Harvey Igben, Head of the Mass Communication Department at Delta State University, Abraka, has underscored the critical role of Public Relations (PR) in fostering good governance within societies.
The University Don who was the Guest Speaker at the PR Clinic session at the February 2024 monthly meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held in Warri, Delta State, emphasized the significance of PR in the realm of effective leadership.
Addressing the gathering on the theme “Public Relations for Good Governance,” Dr. Igben delineated PR as a strategic communication process aimed at fostering mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.
Highlighting key attributes of good governance, the academician underscored the indispensable nature of accountability, transparency, the rule of law, fair electoral practices, cultural diversity, and human rights in the fabric of a functioning governmental system.
Dr. Igben stressed that for governments to effectively represent societal interests, PR must be leveraged as a pivotal tool to shape public opinion, foster positive impressions, influence policy decisions, and maintain a favorable societal image.
Moreover, he asserted that PR professionals bear the responsibility of bolstering public confidence, promoting awareness, nurturing sustainable democracy, enhancing the government’s public image, facilitating responsiveness, fostering constructive interaction, and sustaining democratic principles.
However, Dr. Igben acknowledged that challenges such as corruption, conflict, insecurity, unemployment, poverty, economic downturns, and unethical behavior pose significant impediments to achieving good governance.
In his remarks, Mr. Godfrey Osakwe, the state Chairman of the NIPR, echoed Dr. Igben’s sentiments, affirming that PR stands as a fundamental pillar of public function indispensable to any nation. He cautioned that neglecting PR could precipitate a government’s downfall.
The discourse underscored the pivotal role of PR in fostering transparency, accountability, and effective governance, highlighting its indispensable nature in contemporary societal frameworks.
