NIPR to Establish its Students' Wing in Unical

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has concluded plans to set up its students' arm in the Department of Mass Communication and Digital Media, University of Calabar.

In a briefing held in the departmental lecture hall, Mrs. Offiong Ani Offiong, the Chairperson of NIPR Cross State Chapter, enlightened the students about the activities and operations of NIPR.

 She stated that NIPR, like NUJ, TRCN and ICAN, is a reputable professional organisation.

The Chairperson, who came in company of other members of the Chapter, explained that interested students studying communication related courses can seize the initiative of becoming student and/or graduate members of the Institute without necessarily taking the required professional examinations.

Mrs. Offiong also noted that the benefits of becoming a student member are numerous.

She enumerated them to include: chances of being mentored by senior professional colleagues, opportunity to develop a career in PR, the chance of being inducted as a member of the body at a rebated fee as well as certification with a unique practicing license number, among others.

 She further hinted that the students’ arm would be known as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Students Association (NIPRESA) and intending members were requested to write down their names and phone details.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Head of Department of Mass Communication and Digital Media, Dr. Joseph Ekpang II, informed the students that the briefing was organised to educate them on the need to enroll as students’ members of NIPR.

He noted that as members professional bodies on campus, the students stand the chance of having competitive edge over their peers that are not members.

He admonished the students to leverage on the opportunity and enroll immediately.
     
The meeting was well attended by both staff and students of the department.

The high point of the briefing was taking of group photographs with the state Exco, staff and the students' Exco of NIPRESA in the department.