It was an evening of encomium as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) hosted a 67th birthday dinner in honour of veteran media icon, Senior High Chief Tony Akiotu, who was recently elected the Chairman of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).
At the event in Abuja on Thursday, 30th April, the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku emphasised that the Institute identifies with excellence, which the celebrant represents, noting that the gathering was a way of showing appreciation, building relationships and sustaining partnerships.
He thanked High Chief Akiotu for his support to the Institute during his days in DAAR Communications Plc where he served as the Group Managing Director, a gesture he added that NIPR deeply appreciates.
“When you celebrate and build relationship, you sustain partnership, nobody can do it alone. NIPR is a great beneficiary of partnership and collaboration and thanks to people like Senior High Chief Akiotu”, he stated.
While commending the celebrant for his efforts in positioning AIT as a media organisation for people in need to find succour, the NIPR boss encouraged him to approach his new task as the helmsman of BON with same level of zeal and determination he has always brought to fore in service.
“It’s not easy to find people like Senior High Chief Akiotu who have made their marks and still want to serve. Many people are looking up to you on your new assignment. Your predecessors have done their bits. What I keep telling people is, if you can’t do better than your predecessor, you have no business occupying that seat. Your work is cut out for you. You must do better than those before you. I know you have the capacity”, he noted.
Also speaking, the Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jr. describe the celebrant as a man of tremendous character, goodwill, and very passionate about anything he is committed to.
Dokpesi Jr., who was a co-contested in the election that produced Senior High Chief Akiotu said he is proud to have the celebrant as the leader of the umbrella body of broadcasters in the country, expressing joy that the seat was eventually won by a son of Agenebode town in Edo State.
He expressed optimism that the leadership of the new Chairman will usher in a new era in BON, wishing him a prosperous 67th birthday.
In his remarks, the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comr. Alhassan Yahya Abdul while congratulating Senior High Chief Akiotu on his electoral victory urged for synergy that will improve service delivery in the media space and enhance the welfare of journalists in the country.
He described Akiotu as a veteran who brings to bear years of experience in the industry that will not only strengthen the output in broadcast space but mentor outstanding professionals.
A legal luminary, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, Senior Advocate of Nigeria extolled the celebrant’s exemplary lifestyle of humility and hardwork, which has seen him rise through the ladders, to the peak of his career as a broadcaster.
He urged High Chief Akiotu to accommodate every shade of opinion, run an all-inclusive government and foster partnership with organisations to actualise the goals he has set.
While encouraging him to surpass the records of his predecessors and broker new ground, Prof. Ozekhome prayed for divine wisdom upon Akiotu and his team to take BON to greater heights.
Present at the event include, Immediate Past President of NIPR, Malam Mukhtar Sirajo; the Registrar, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue; Governing Council Members of the Institute, Gen. SK Usman (Rtd); Dr. Ahmad Sajoh; Mrs. Olubunmi Badejoh; Bashir Musa Usman; the Secretary General of African Public Relations Association (APRA), Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan; the CEO Development Spec Initiative, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu; Senior Public Relations professionals, Hajia Lami Tumaka and Chief Mrs. Moji Makanjuola both Fellows of the Institute and the Director of Public Relations, Stanley Ogadigo.
Others are, the Okumagbe-elect in Uwano Kingdom of Etsako East local government area of Edo State, Sen. Francis Alimmikhena; former Chief of Staff to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Ogadomhe; Former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mauritius, Mozambique and Madagascar, Amb. Yamah Mohammed Osemobo; Former Director General Voice of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa; the Executive Secretary BON, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose; Former Managing Director AIT, Mrs. Oluwatosin Dokpesi, top officials of DAAR Communications Plc and other notable personalities.
Also at the event include, staff of NIPR National Secretariat, including Mr. Duke Imandu, Miss Alexandria Eke and Austin Magaji, as well as the Senior Admin Secretary of FCT Chapter, Mr. Uzoma Nwosu.
