PRCAN Opens National Secretariat in Lagos

The Lagos State Government has congratulated the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) and other sectorial groups in the marketing communications industry for the synergy among them.

Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, who was the special guest at the commissioning of PRCAN national secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos at the weekend, said the integration and cooperation among the bodies would further deepen professionalism in the industry to the greater benefit of the society.

Ayorinde said: “What can I say today than to congratulate PRCAN? Everyone here is a friend or colleague. One of the great things that one can hope to accomplish as an association is to have integrity, unity and focus. I am glad that you (PRCAN) now have a place called home, though we are not there yet; but this is close to home; and I believe at no time, you will soon have a permanent place you can call your home. The state government is proud of you and we wish you all the very best.”

Ayorinde explained some of the policy directions of the Lagos State Government in the areas of infrastructural development, improving quality of lives and keeping Lagos safe and clean.

The landmark event marked the first time the association, founded in 1982, will be having a place of its own. The umbrella body of Public Relations consultancy firms operating in Nigeria had operated from various locations over the decades but never before now had its own Secretariat.

PRCAN President, Mr John Ehiguese, explained that the occasion underscored the association’s resolve to strengthen the PR profession in the country and also portray serious-mindedness to national and international communities.

His words: “This epoch event is in fulfilment of one of the cardinal agenda we made when my executive committee members were sworn in 2014, to provide a secretariat for PRCAN. We are happy to finally be able to deliver on that promise. This morning, we paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, and we were well received by Mr Femi Adesina and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu. All these are in our efforts at opening frontiers of growth, engendering equity and positioning the association as a serious-minded professional body that seeks to strengthen standards in the professional practice of public relations in Nigeria.”

The various groups were led by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) whose president, Dr Rotimi Oladele, was the Chief Host.

Dr Oladele commended the leadership and members of PRCAN for the ground-breaking development and sought for more collaboration between the association and NIPR, as well as collaboration among the groups in the marketing communications sector.

Other guests at the occasion who applauded the renewed efforts of PRCAN at growing the PR practice were: Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, Secretary General of African Public Relations Association (APRA); Mr Kelechi Nwosu, President of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN); Mr Wole Olagundoye ,Vice President of Experiential Marketers Association of Nigeria (EXMAN); Mr Babatunde Adedoyin, President of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN); Mr Ehi Adzufeh, Executive Secretary of Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN); Mr Goddie Ofose, Chairman of Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria; as well as leaders of other related sectorial groups in the country, PRCAN members and their friends.

The various sectoral groups pledged their support for PRCAN in further developing the secretariat, while Badejo-Okusanya promised more facilities at the office in honour of the pioneer PRCAN President, the Late Chief Toye Ogunnorin.

PRCAN, the umbrella body of Public Relations consultancy firms operating in Nigeria, has as its primary objective the promotion of professional reputation management in Nigeria, in both the public and private sectors. It is also committed to maintaining professional standards and discipline among members and providing the right environment for the public and private sectors to thrive and meet their PR consultancy needs.

PRCAN is chartered by NIPR Bye Law No. 3 of 1993, to cater to the interests of the consultancy side of PR practice in Nigeria. It currently has a membership of 52 PR firms providing services across at least 21 PR practice areas.