The Chairman of the Delta State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Godfrey C. Osakwe, fnipr, has called on governments, public institutions, private organisations, development partners, the media, civil society and the business community to embrace strategic public relations as a critical management function for building trust, strengthening democracy, attracting investment and driving sustainable national development.
Osakwe made the call in his welcome address at the Chapter’s Special July Monthly General Meeting held at the Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba, in commemoration of World Public Relations Day 2026.
Speaking on the global theme, “The Golden Age of Strategic Public Relations,” he observed that the world is witnessing unprecedented technological advancement driven by artificial intelligence, automation and digital transformation.
He, however, maintained that while technology can process information and generate content, it cannot replace the uniquely human qualities of integrity, empathy, emotional intelligence, ethical judgment and trust.
“Technology may process information, but only human beings can inspire trust. Artificial intelligence may generate content, but it cannot replace conscience,” Osakwe stated.
He explained that the future of the profession lies in the Human Operating System (Human OS), which places people at the centre of communication through relationship building, dialogue, conflict resolution, stakeholder engagement and the cultivation of public confidence.
According to him, public relations has become increasingly indispensable in addressing misinformation, disinformation, polarisation and declining public trust, describing practitioners as builders of trust, custodians of reputation, architects of dialogue and bridges between institutions and the people they serve.
Osakwe also expressed pride that the World Public Relations Day, now celebrated globally, was conceived by a Nigerian communication strategist, Mr. Ayeni Adekunle, describing the initiative as a testament to Nigeria’s contribution to the advancement of the global public relations profession.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. Emmanuel Akpoveta, a communication scholar and lecturer at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, identified emotional intelligence, ethical and moral judgment, critical thinking, creativity, empathy, strategic thinking, adaptability, effective communication, leadership, cultural intelligence, authenticity, relationship building, lifelong learning, problem-solving ability and a strong sense of purpose as the defining competencies that distinguish public relations professionals from machines.
While acknowledging the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in content generation, trend analysis and behavioural prediction, Dr. Akpoveta stressed that AI lacks conscience, wisdom and the capacity for moral reasoning required to navigate complex communication challenges.
He identified deepfake technology, fake news, misinformation, algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, cybersecurity threats, digital manipulation and declining public trust as emerging threats confronting public relations practitioners in the digital era, warning that the growing sophistication of digital technologies has made ethical human oversight more imperative than ever.
Osakwe, further urged members of the Institute and communication professionals to remain committed to professionalism, ethical practice, innovation, continuous learning and service to humanity.
“As we commemorate World Public Relations Day 2026, let us renew our commitment to elevating the standards of our profession and demonstrate through our actions that public relations remains the heartbeat of effective leadership and meaningful development,” he said.
The event brought together public relations practitioners, communication experts, media professionals and other stakeholders to reflect on the evolving role of strategic public relations in promoting responsible communication, institutional excellence and national development.
