By: Omolara Osindele & Tunde Olayiwola

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State Chapter and the PR Primus Limited for their collaborative efforts at providing scholarship awards to the less privileged as government alone cannot make impact on the society.

Gov. Abiodun gave the commendation while presenting gifts to beneficiaries of the empowerment scheme at the 2023 'Your Image Awards' and Lecture as well as Magazine Launch, put together by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Ogun State Chapter in conjunction with the PR Primus Limited, held at the Park-Inn by Radisson, Kuto, Abeokuta.

Represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun, the governor said the empowerment scheme was laudable as men of valour to assist the government to raise the less privileged, who will in turn raise other people in the future are needed at this point in time.

He appreciated the Public/Private Partnership (PPP) as advocated by him at work and called on all other stakeholders to join in driving and achieving the ISEYA mantra of his administration for the betterment of all.

According to him, Public Relations is a core managerial function that must be solely handled as such and charged the practitioners to have an ethical compass on how to run their affairs, as the respect that would be accorded to them depends on how they carry out their duties.

"I am in support of the educational initiative of the organisers. I appreciate you for what you're doing. I am happy that this is happening and I will continue to support such. I also appreciate you for making life more abundant for the beneficiaries and pray that God continue to rest the souls of the departed in whose honour the empowerment is being done", Gov. Abiodun prayed.

He described the Late former Head of Service, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu, in whose honour the award was given to students of his Alma Mater, the Egba Comprehensive High School, Asero, Abeokuta, as a thorough bred professional who proved his mettle as an astute administrator in the smooth transition of the last government to the present one.

Gov. Abiodun also called on those in active service to always put in their best in managing the image of the State, as the good portrayal to the outside world, especially investors is a corporate image of all.

On his part, the Olowu of Owu, who doubles as the Chairman of the day, HRM Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola, said Public Relations is about building a good image in all things as exemplified by the choice of the awardees who have distinguished themselves in their chosen careers and the PR world.

He added that to coach, mentor and share people's feelings especially in pain and needs are PR functions and appreciated the organisers for the initiative of empowering the less privileged.

Earlier in a welcome address, the MD/CEO, PR Primus Limited, Mr. Akin Okudero, said part of the programme was to give back to the society through the empowerment scheme to immortalise two of their members, former Head of Service of Ogun State, Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu and a Mass Communication Scholar, Prof. Lai Osho, to honour them for their immense contributions to the professional body and the society at large.

While congratulating the beneficiaries, Mr. Okudero appreciated the partners for their support and solicited for more support in order to accommodate more people into the scheme.

Highlights of the event include presentation of plaques and certificates to some PR icons like the Towulade of Akinale, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, Mr. Eddy Aina, Chief Segun Odegbami among others, while John Adesina and Habeebat Hamzat received scholarship awards in the secondary school category and Yusuff Edun as well as Nimotalai Ogunlaja from the Mass Communication Department of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ojere, Abeokuta, received that of the tertiary school awards in honour of Prof. Lai Osho.