By Nnasom David

Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, has received an honorary fellowship from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in recognition of her outstanding leadership.

The fellowship was also in recognition of her innovative approach, and significant contributions to transforming the Federal Civil Service into a globally competitive institution that drives national growth and development.

Yemi-Esan received the Honorary Fellowship in Abuja at the public lecture held in commemoration of 2024 World Public Relations Day, with the theme, “The Future of Public Relations in a Changing World: Journey in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service”.

While thanking the President of NIPR and Members of the Governing Council for the honor, Yemi-Esan affirmed that the Service under her watch has moved from where it was years ago in terms of inclusivity, reforms, and digital transformation.

 Yemi-Esan affirmed that the Service under her watch has moved from where it was years ago in terms of inclusivity, reforms, and digital transformation.

She said: “If you don’t tell your story, someone else will” This only underscores the importance of information and image management within the sphere of corporate governance at all levels.”

She noted that in the course of her public service career, she has been able to appreciate very laudable interventions of the Government at various levels of implementation, but one recurring factor that waters down the visibility of public appreciation of what is being done is the failure to effectively tell the story.

“This is why the practice of public relations should never be a profession of all sorts but should remain professional and grounded by contemporary ethics,” she said.

She also acknowledged the forthrightness of the leadership of the NIPR led by one of the nation’s finest in the realm of Information Management, Dr. Ike Neliaku.

She further stated that the Federal Civil Service recognizes the importance of effective and responsible communication.

“We have been able to do a lot in collaboration with our private sector partners to create a framework for communicating our programmes and activities in addition to the feedback mechanism for our internal and external public,” she added.

She urged NIPR to continue to partner with the Service to drive transformation.

Senator Osita Izunaso, Chairman, of the Senate Committee on Capital Market, in his opening remarks, appreciated the HCSF for the Cadrerization of Public Relations in the Civil Service.

He stated that the Senate is working on the amendment of the NIPR moribund Charter to reflect current realities and global best practices.

The President, of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, while appreciating the HCSF for seeing to the Cadrerization of PR during her tenure, said her commitment, integrity, hard work, and passion for excellence earned her the recognition.

The Keynote Speaker, Otunba Olufemi Oyawale, in his paper presentation, said that without Public Relations, there is no life in a fast-changing and competitive world.

He also highlighted the urgent need for the Federal Government to motivate its Public Relations Officers (PROs) and involve them in decision-making processes.

“The days of fire brigade approach to public relations are truly over, this is the era of the articulate, thoroughly professional, well-renumerated, ICT skilled and fully involved government PROs,” he added.