Bishop Ezeokafor Receives NIPR New State Exco

The Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, His Lordship Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor was on Thursday 5th March 2015 received the new executive members of Anambra State chapter of Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) who called on him at St. Patrick's Catholic Cathedral, Awka.

Speaking during the visit, the newly elected State chairman of the chapter, Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmos Ebebe described the bishop as a man of honour and integrity who has made positive impact in the lives of the priests, religious and lay faithful especially in Awka Diocese.

Rev. Fr. Ebebe, who was a Fellow of the institute, said the basic function on the institute was all about image making and reputation management noting that they came to intimate the bishop of the activities of the institute and as well present to him his nomination form for an award of Excellence which if accepted would be conferred on him in their next award giving ceremony.

Rev. Fr. Ebebe, while intimating the bishop of the essence of their visit, decried non membership of priests into institute and pleaded with bishop to allow all those who are in-charge of image-making business of the Diocese to identify with them noting that from 1st June, 2015, the body would embarked on sanitisation tour to rid the profession of quacks and  consequently ensuring that only registered members of NIPR are patronized in any image making jobs.

He explained that NIPR was formed in 1963 as a unit and was charted in 1990 making it a full and independent body. According to Fr. Ebebe, the institute would soon start the process of apprehending and prosecuting impersonators.

Contributing the immediate past State Chairman of the institute, Rev. Fr. Prof. Boniface Obiefuna expressed the hope that with the supports and encouragements  from Church leaders, the body would assume its rightful position in Nigeria. He appealed to the bishop to sanctioned the training and re-training of all those who are heading various organs of the Church in the Diocese even as he said if care was not taken  poor public relations could lead anarchy in some parishes and enjoined the over five hundred diocesan priests to master the act of PR.

Responding, Bishop Ezeokafor expressed appreciation for their visit and promised to look into their request. He said he was highly elated when it was announced that  two priests of Awka Catholic Diocese were now holding key positions in the institute .

A roll call of those who visited the bishop is as follows: Rev. Fr. Dr. Cosmos Ebebe (State Chairman); Mrs. Ngozi Ulogu of National Orientation Agency (NOA) Vice Chairman; Rev. Fr. Prof. Boniface Obiefuna (Immediate past State chairman and Dean Faculty of Art Unizik ) ; Dr. Ventius Agbanu of the dept Mass Comm ANSU ) Secretary; Sir. Peter Utazi of Consumer Protection Council( Immediate past State Secretary) and Mr. Uche Osunkwo of Unizik FM).