NCC’s Ibietan Elected APRA Secretary-General | ClipTV Online

Introducing Ibietan

In a notable achievement for Nigerian public relations, National Communications Commission’s (NCC), Omoniyi Ibietan, a seasoned communications expert, has been elected Secretary-General of the African Public Relations Association (APRA). This election took place during the 35th Annual Conference and General Meeting held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Ibietan, who is a fellow of both the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and APRA, brings over 20 years of experience in media relations, communication strategy, and policy discourse. His extensive career includes roles at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Federal Ministry of Information and Communication.

New Responsibility

In his new role, Ibietan has committed to continuing APRA’s reforms, enhancing democratic engagement, and collaborating closely with the African Union Commission and Council of Ministers. He aims to position public relations as a core component of policy implementation. Ibietan will work alongside Arik Karani (Kenya), the newly elected President, and Dr. Michele Mekeme (Cameroon), the Vice President, to achieve these objectives.

Ibietan’s election underscores Nigeria’s leadership in public relations and communications. His academic credentials are impressive: he holds a BA and MA in Communication Arts and Communication & Language Arts from the Universities of Uyo and Ibadan, respectively, and a Ph.D. in Communication with a specialization in political communication from North-West University, South Africa. Additionally, he is an IP3 certified regulation specialist and holds a mini MBA in telecommunications from NEOTELIS in Paris.

Studies

As a scholar, Ibietan’s research focuses on political communication, media and culture studies, and the theoretical and normative foundations of communication in relation to democracy and freedom. He is a faculty member at the Nigerian campus of Italy-based Rome Business School, teaching doctoral students in PR & Advertising and Media Management & Communication Strategy. His first book, “Social Media, Social Demography, and Voting Behaviour in Nigeria,” was published in May 2023 by Premium Times Books in Washington.

Ibietan’s election was celebrated during the conference, where he also presented a paper titled “Digital Inclusion as Arbiter of Accessible Public Relations: A Case of Nigerian Communications Commission.” His presentation utilized Castells’ Theory of the Network Society and the Knowledge Gap Theory to argue that digital inclusion is pivotal for effective digital public relations.

APRA, which succeeded the Federation of African Public Relations Association (FAPRA) established in 1975, aims to foster unity among Africans and their global allies. The association emphasizes standardizing public relations practice and scholarship across the continent to reflect African realities. This year’s conference theme, “One Africa, One Voice: Bridging Africa’s Communication Divide,” highlights APRA’s commitment to addressing communication challenges within Africa.

Nevertheless, the 2024 APRA conference in Côte d’Ivoire, endorsed by the Ivorian government and major global PR organizations, featured the eighth edition of the Innovation Summit (IN2SUMMIT) and the seventh edition of the SABRE Awards Africa. The APRA secretariat is based in Nigeria and maintains an observer status with the African Union.

Ibietan’s election as Secretary-General is however a testament to his expertise and dedication to advancing public relations in Africa, promising a future of enhanced communication and unity across the continent.