Bayero University, Kano is hosting the 5th National Conference of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations for professionals in tertiary institutions from 25th to 28th November, 2025.
Themed Advancing Institutional Transformation through Strategic Public Relations in Higher Education, the conference brought together public relations professionals, media and communication experts, directors of public relations, and heads of public affairs from academia, industry, and participants from federal, state, and private institutions across Nigeria.
Declaring the conference open, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, fsi, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management Services, Professor Aliyu Mu’azu, mni, said the theme of the conference deeply resonated with the realities facing tertiary institutions today. He said that at BUK, “we recognize the value of communication, and this is reflected in the growing profile of our institution.”
The Vice-Chancellor expressed deep appreciation to the organizers for granting BUK the hosting rights, noting that a university may invest heavily in infrastructure, research, and human capital, but without strong communication, much of that progress remains invisible.
The first keynote speaker, Dr. Mohammed Auwal Haruna, FNIPR, FIICA, from the Faculty of Communication, said strategic public relations is a powerful tool for driving institutional transformation in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, and that by adopting a proactive and deliberate approach to leadership communication, institutions can build trust, foster collaboration, and drive innovation.
He stated that strategic public relations can help institutions navigate the complexities of the 21st century, address the challenges of political patronage, elite capture, and a host of other problems facing tertiary institutions in Nigeria so as to achieve their academic and social mission.
Dr. Haruna noted that as Nigeria’s tertiary institutions strive for excellence, they must prioritize strategic public relations in their management approaches as one of the key drivers that can competitively facilitate their transformation and build a brighter future for their stakeholders.
The second keynote address was presented by Dr. Peter Oyeneye, Chairman of the NIPR Training and Professional Development Committee, who stated that addressing internal communication challenges requires a deliberate effort to shift from a top-down-only information flow to more inter-departmental communication. He emphasized the importance of reaching and engaging employees regardless of their location, as well as paying closer attention to employees’ concerns about internal communication.
The National President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku—represented by Dr. Peter Oyeneye—said that public relations plays a significant role in Nigeria’s socio-economic development, emphasizing that PR professionals are critical stakeholders in this process. He noted that tertiary institutions must invest heavily in their public relations activities to strengthen their impact and visibility..
At the end of the first day’s sessions on Wednesday, 26th November, 2025, participants paid a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa. He expressed appreciation for the honour done to BUK and pledged his unwavering support for the PR profession, saying the University would continue to empower the Directorate of Public Affairs to function optimally.
The Director of Public Affairs, Lamara Garba, mnipr, who is also the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, thanked all participants for attending and expressed gratitude to members of the LOC for their immense contributions.