…DOU VC Aghalino, Prof Obukadata, PR Professionals call for ethical governance, stakeholder engagement and trust-building as foundations for sustainable development.
Public relations professionals, academics and government officials have identified strategic communication as a critical driver of accountable leadership and sustainable national development, stressing that rebuilding public trust is indispensable to Nigeria’s democratic and socioeconomic progress.
The consensus emerged at the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) Public Lecture of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), held in Asaba on Thursday. The lecture, themed “Leadership, Accountability and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: The Strategic Intersection of Public Relations for National Repositioning,” attracted communication professionals, policymakers, scholars and stakeholders from across the public and private sectors.
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Vice-Chancellor of Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, Professor Samuel Ovuete Aghalino, described Nigeria as a nation richly endowed with human and natural resources but constrained by governance deficits, weak institutions and declining public trust.
He said the country’s development aspirations would remain difficult to achieve unless governance is anchored on accountability, institutional integrity and active citizen participation.
Professor Aghalino challenged public relations practitioners to move beyond traditional publicity functions and embrace their expanding role as strategic advisers, ethical communicators, and development partners capable of strengthening governance and fostering national cohesion. According to him, governance should be stakeholder-driven, with citizens actively engaged in policy processes through transparent and inclusive communication.
“If leadership failure is a disease, strategic communication is part of the cure,” he declared, adding that modern public relations has evolved into a strategic governance function that enhances transparency, builds confidence in public institutions and improves policy acceptance.
In the same vein, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Professor Presley Obukadata, said Nigeria’s path to sustainable development lies not only in sound public policies but also in ethical leadership, accountable institutions and strategic communication that fosters trust between government, organisations and the people they serve.
He explained that governments and organisations now operate in an environment characterised by heightened public expectations, rapid digital transformation and the growing challenge of misinformation, requiring communication professionals to serve as strategic advisers who facilitate dialogue, manage reputation, strengthen institutional credibility and build mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders.
Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the Delta State Bureau for State Pensions, Sir Edwin Ogidi-Gbegbaje, described the lecture as timely and thought-provoking, expressing confidence that the quality of presentations and discussions would deepen public discourse on leadership, accountability and sustainable development.
He said the insights generated at the forum would contribute to strengthening democratic governance, promoting ethical leadership, and reinforcing public confidence in institutions.
In his goodwill message, member of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Director-General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Hon. Patrick Ukah urged public relations practitioners to remain committed to understanding public perception and effectively communicating the intentions of the institutions and leaders they serve.
He said professional communicators must continually gauge public opinion and ensure that government policies and organisational decisions are communicated in ways that inspire confidence, promote understanding, and strengthen relationships with stakeholders.
In his welcome address, Chairman of the Delta State Chapter of NIPR, Mr. Godfrey C. Osakwe
, FNIPR, said the public lecture was conceived to stimulate meaningful conversations capable of advancing responsible leadership, strengthening accountability, and restoring citizens’ confidence in governance.
He noted that sustainable development cannot thrive in an environment where transparency and accountability are lacking, describing public relations as a strategic bridge between government and the governed.
“Nigeria’s journey towards sustainable development begins where leadership embraces accountability and public relations becomes the bridge between governance and the trust of the people,” he said.
Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the AGM, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Chapter of NIPR and Director-General of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. (Barr.) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, said the theme reflects the changing role of public relations from a publicity-driven function to a strategic management discipline that is increasingly shaping governance, policy communication, and national development.
According to him, contemporary public relations practice places greater emphasis on stakeholder engagement, transparency, accountability, and trust-building, making the theme particularly relevant to Nigeria’s evolving democratic landscape.
Dr. Oghenesivbe further stated that the theme aligns with emerging trends that position public relations as a catalyst for sustainable development through ethical communication, crisis management, citizen participation, and behavioural change initiatives.
He noted that effective leadership is no longer measured solely by policy formulation but also by the ability to communicate transparently, inspire public confidence, and sustain trust through continuous engagement with citizens.
“Public relations has become indispensable to good governance because it promotes openness, strengthens institutional credibility, and encourages citizens’ participation in the development process. Strategic communication is now a critical tool for building trust, managing reputation, and advancing sustainable socioeconomic development,” he said.
High point of the AGM 2026 was the presentation of the Delta NIPR Award for Excellence in Leadership to Prof. Presley Obukadata in recognition of his invaluable contributions to the advancement of the Public Relations and Advertising profession in Nigeria. He is a prominent Professor of Brand, Strategic Communication, and Media Studies. The presentation was made on behalf of the chapter by the Public Relations Officer, Dr (Barr.) Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, after the training session on June 24 at the Press Centre of the Government House, Asaba.
The AGM public lecture attracted public relations practitioners, communication scholars, government officials, media professionals and development stakeholders, who engaged in robust discussions on the future of strategic communication and its role in promoting accountable leadership and national development.
