The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, has praised the Cross River State Government for executing people-oriented projects that add value to citizens’ lives.
Dr. Neliaku made the remark during a tour of key projects in Calabar with members of the institute’s governing council on Monday. The delegation, comprising national and state officials, was conducted around the sites by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, and other ministry staff.
“For us in the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, it is not really about projects, but about the relevance of those projects to the citizens. Are they adding value to the lives of the people?” he said.
Some of the projects inspected included the Adiabo–Ikoneto road, the completed Cross River Civil Service Commission complex, Calabar Depot road dualization and street lighting, the remodeled state library, and the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Chronicle complex.
Dr. Neliaku noted that these projects are not only modernizing infrastructure but also enhancing socio-cultural and economic connectivity within and beyond the state.
He described the redesigned state library as a “blessing in disguise” for young people returning to reading and research. “I was told the level of patronage is very high. People are returning to use the library for studies, research, and writing,” he said.
The NIPR president commended the government for ensuring projects have clear timelines and that contractors are not owed. “These projects are not endless. They have timelines and specific commissioning dates. That is very exciting,” he said.
He further emphasized the importance of leadership reputation, noting that good governance and impactful projects are key to earning public trust. “Reputation is a very important asset for any leader. What you do determines the quality of your leadership and how people perceive you,” he said.
Dr. Neliaku stressed that the institute only aligns itself with leaders whose actions strengthen the profession. “We have not come here to sing anybody’s praises. We are doing this for Nigeria and the profession we respect. If we are not satisfied with what we see, we will not associate our institute with it,” he added.
Kingsley Agim
