By Austin Ogwuda
THE Director-General of the Delta State Directorate of Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe and Mr. Felix Ofou, Executive Assistant on New Media to the Governor have emphasized the need for Public Relations (PR) Advisers in government to ensure that they provide timely, transparent and fact-based communication at all times.
According to them, such professionalism is essential not only for maintaining public trust but also for reinforcing the credibility and effectiveness of governance for policy acceptance. They are also essential for preserving the integrity of governance structures.
Both spoke at the 2025 World Public Relations Day celebration hosted by the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) held in Asaba on Wednesday, with the theme ‘Building Bridges and Navigating Polarization: The Power of Public Relations in Governance and Nation Building’.
Contributing to the dialogue, the duo maintained the fact that PR advisers in government have a constitutional responsibility to ensure timely, transparent and fact-based communication.
In his welcome address, the Delta NIPR State Chairman, Mr. Godfrey Osakwe stressed the foundational role of public relations in nurturing unity, public confidence and democratic values.
He urged practitioners to maintain high ethical standards and always speak the truth in their engagement with both the public and their respective institutions.
The panel session featured distinguished voices from academia and the communication sector, including Dr. Joy Erure Anho, Deputy Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku; Dr. Collins Kediehor of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; Dr. Fidelis Chike Nwadike, Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku and Dr. Harvey Egben, former Head of the Department of Mass Communication, DELSU, Abraka.
At the end of the day, stakeholders in the communication sector called for the strategic and ethical deployment of public relations as a critical tool for governance and national development.
Collectively, they underscored the vital role of public relations professionals as strategic intermediaries between government and the public—tasked with countering misinformation, managing crises, and promoting truthful, impactful storytelling.
Participants emphasized that public relations, when practiced with integrity holds the potential to rebuild trust in institutions and drive development, particularly in emerging democracies.
They noted that while developed nations have long integrated PR into their governance architecture, many developing countries are still grappling with misinformation and a lack of strategic communication in policy execution.
The event concluded with a lively interactive session, where students and participants engaged directly with the panelists.
Source: NdokwaReporters
