NEWS
Abia State Govt Reaffirms Strategic Partnership with NIPR as Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu Emerges First Female Chairman at 2025 AGM and Elections
The Abia State Government has restated its unwavering commitment to collaborate closely with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in advancing professionalism, ethical conduct, and excellence in public communication, as part of broader efforts to strengthen transparency and good governance in the state.
The Honourable Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made this declaration on Tuesday at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of the Abia State Chapter of NIPR, held at the Police Officers’ Mess, Umuahia.
Congratulating the newly elected executives, Prince Kanu charged them to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and integrity in the discharge of their responsibilities. He emphasized that the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti remains receptive to constructive engagement and strategic partnerships that promote responsible communication and support the state’s development agenda.
According to him, a strong and ethical public relations practice is critical to building public trust, managing information effectively, and projecting the true image of governance, noting that the Abia State Government values the role of NIPR as a key stakeholder in this regard.
The election followed the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past executive led by Deacon Olunkwa Felix and resulted in the emergence of Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu, FNIPR, as the new Chairman of the Abia State Chapter.
The electoral process was supervised by the National President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, who was represented by Dr. Ahmed Sajoh, FNIPR, Chairman of the Council Committee on Chapter Support and Development.
Delivering a goodwill message, the National President urged the new leadership to sustain the Abia Chapter as a formidable professional body, guided by global best practices and the core values of the Institute. He also highlighted recent amendments to the NIPR Bye-Laws, which now empower state chapters to establish branches.
He explained that the new provision allows for the creation of branches in major centres such as Aba and Umuahia, enabling them to hold independent meetings while periodically coming together to harmonize activities and strengthen cohesion across the Chapter.
In her acceptance speech, Onyinye Ralph-Nwachukwu expressed deep appreciation to members for the confidence reposed in her, describing her emergence as a collective victory for the Chapter. She acknowledged God’s grace and commended the Electoral Committee for conducting a transparent and credible exercise, adding that the unity displayed by members signals a bright future for Abia NIPR.
She described her election as historic, becoming the first female Chairman of the Abia State Chapter, and noted that the moment represents the steady growth and maturity of the Chapter rather than a personal achievement.
Ralph-Nwachukwu paid tribute to past Chairmen and former executives for their sacrifices and foundational contributions, calling on members to rally together in unity and renewed commitment to service.
She outlined key priority areas of her administration to include promoting inclusiveness, strengthening ethical practice, enhancing the visibility and relevance of the Chapter, and building strategic partnerships that will expand the Institute’s influence within and outside Abia State.
She assured members of an open and consultative leadership style, stressing that every member matters and every voice counts, while urging all to put the election behind them and focus on strengthening the Institute for greater impact.
Other officers elected are Ikechukwu-Odionyenfe Oluchi as Vice Chairman; Ori Innocent-Onuoha as Secretary; Victor Onwuka as Assistant Secretary; Grace Gbagi as Financial Secretary; Onyinyechi Obi as Treasurer; Promise Uzoma Okoro (PUO) as Public Relations Officer; Cletus Nwankwo as Auditor; and Amaka Unamba as Welfare Officer.
Meanwhile, the immediate past Chairman, Deacon Olunkwa Felix, alongside Sir OJ Bob Amanze, was elected as Ex-Offic
io members of the Chapter.