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Tag: PRCAN

  • PRCAN repositions as industry leader with far-reaching reforms

    PRCAN repositions as industry leader with far-reaching reforms

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has taken a decisive step to reposition itself as the authority in Nigeria’s PR consultancy space with the unveiling of its revised operating guidelines and Byelaw—major reforms recently approved by the Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

    At a stakeholder engagement forum in Lagos, the Association, according to a statement in Abuja, presented the updated frameworks designed to align PR practice in Nigeria with global standards, strengthen regulation, and broaden inclusivity in the fast-evolving communications landscape.

    PRCAN Chairman/CEO, Nkechi Ali-Balogun, described the reforms as a “significant milestone” in the Association’s drive to modernise its structures and reaffirm its leadership in the industry.

    “The guidelines and Byelaw form the foundation of our shared principles. They clarify our structure, processes, and responsibilities.

    “Today’s engagement marks the beginning of implementing reforms that ensure our legal and operational frameworks are sound, representative, and responsive to modern demands,” she said.

    The reforms update the NIPR Byelaw No. 3 of 1993, which originally established PRCAN.

    After 32 years, industry leaders agreed the framework needed recalibration to confront emerging challenges, regulate practitioner–client relationships, enhance professional ethics, and protect consultants from exploitation.

    “These reforms broaden inclusivity, strengthen client–practitioner relationships, and equip our members for contemporary service delivery,” Ali-Balogun added.

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    “They will deliver greater value to clients while keeping our Association fit for purpose.”

    The forum attracted practitioners across generations and specialisations. Four past presidents—Chief Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, Mazi Mike Okereke, John Ehiguese, and Israel Opayemi—were present and contributed expert insights drawn from decades of industry leadership.

    Delivering a goodwill message, former PRCAN President and CEO of Mike Okereke Consulting, Mazi Mike Okereke, praised the current leadership for its revitalisation drive.

    He noted that PRCAN had historically shaped the development of public relations in Nigeria and must continue to assert itself as a central voice on professional standards and policy within the NIPR ecosystem.

    “We appreciate the contributions of our past leaders and all stakeholders,” Ali-Balogun said in closing.

    “Their input is invaluable as we begin the full implementation of these reforms. We look forward to sustained collaboration as PRCAN charts the future of public relations consulting in Nigeria.”

  • Ayorinde inaugurates PRCAN secretariat

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) has opened its national secretariat office in Lagos.

    The office, on Moshood Abiola Crescent, Ikeja, was inaugurated by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde.

    The event, which took place last week, was witnessed by top echelon of Nigeria’s Integrated Marketing Communications sector, including egg-heads of sectorial regulatory bodies, the media and member firms of PRCAN.

    Ayorinde, who was the special guest at the commissioning, said the current level of integration and cooperation among the marketing communications sectorial bodies would further deepen professionalism in the industry to the greater benefit of the society.

    “What can I say today than to congratulate PRCAN. Everyone here is a friend or colleague. One of the great things that one can hope to accomplish as an association is to have integrity, unity and focus. I am glad that you (PRCAN) now have a place called home, though we are not there yet; but this is close to home; and I believe at no time, you will soon have a permanent place you can call your home. The state government is proud of you and we wish you all the very best,” Ayorinde expressed.

    The various groups were led by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) whose president, Dr Rotimi Oladele, was the chief host.

  • ICCO admits PRCAN as member

    The Public Relations Consultants Association (PRCAN), the umbrella body of PR consultancy firms operating in Nigeria, has been admitted into membership of the International Communications Consultancy Organisation (ICCO).

    PRCAN’s admission was announced by the ICCO Chief Executive, Francis Ingham, at the organization’s bi-annual Board of Management meeting which held in Vienna, Austria, on April 16-17, 2015.

    Following PRCAN’s inclusion, its President, Mr. John Ehiguese, has also been appointed to the Board of Management of the Organisation, for a maximum tenure of four years. By this appointment, he joins 30 other members in ICCO’s highest decision-making authority.

    Ehiguese said: “I am very excited at this development, because it means that Nigerian PR has finally joined the global mainstream. ICCO is the largest global PR body, representing over 2,000 consultancy firms from 31 countries. It is heavily involved in training, events, industry updates, CMS and Global reports, areas in which I believe PRCAN members will benefit tremendously.

    “With my admission to the Board of ICCO we also now have a voice on the world stage. I intend, not only to be a worthy ambassador of Nigerian PR practice, but to also encourage our members to participate fully in the activities of ICCO so that we can bring ourselves up to speed with current global best practice, enabling us to attain higher professional standards and deliver more value to the clients we work for.”

    ICCO is the voice of PR consultancies around the world. Its membership comprises national trade associations in 31 countries across the globe: from Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australasia. Collectively, these associations represent over 2,000 firms.

    It provides a forum for senior management of the world’s best PR consultancies to meet and address issues of mutual interest and concern. Members work together to raise standards of quality, address ethical issues, harmonise professional consultancy practice and share knowledge.

  • PRCAN urges nation-branding campaign

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), the umbrella body of consultancy firms in Nigeria, has called on President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to embark on strategic nation branding campaign.

    Its President, Mr. John Ehiguese, urged Buhari to inaugurate a strategic nation-branding campaign that would ride on the goodwill that the country enjoys.

    He said this would be planned and executed by a team of experts in strategic communication.

    He said: “We are also excited at the fact that the peaceful conduct of the elections has somewhat redeemed the image of our country, and look forward to Nigeria getting set to reap the huge benefits that will accrue therefrom.

    “As the biggest economy in Africa, and the choice investment destination globally, Nigeria now stands on the threshold of history, set to take its rightful place among the leading and fastest growing nations of the world.”

    Last week, the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) also called on the president-elect to overhaul the national communication architecture to re-ignite the Nigerian spirit and positively project brand Nigeria.

    Its President, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, urged Buhari  to re-configure the national communication architecture in other to give impetus to a robust economy, promote national re-orientation, inspire innovation, as well as enable entrepreneurship.

  • ‘Why PR practice is dying’

    Nigeria’s Public Relations businesses are   being ignored in global ranking as a result of lack of industry data and documentation, the President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Mr. John Ehiguese, has said.

    “We tend to be ignored in global rankings because the world does not have data on PR practice in Nigeria. And you cannot generate data if you do not conduct research. Also, we do not have a culture of documenting our campaigns in the form of case studies which we can present to global forums for assessment and reviews,” he said.

    Ehiguese said further that the industry continued to suffer setbacks because practitioners are not exposed to international conferences and seminars on PR practice. “Our level of international exposure is still abysmally low. How many of our practitioners attend international PR conferences, for instance?” he queried.

    Ehiguese, who is also the Managing Director of Mediacraft, said since he assumed office as the president of PRCAN, part of his agenda is to upgrade standard to ensure that industry attract respects locally and internationally.

    However, he said, despite the abysmal performance of PR business in the marketing communication industry, the associations have done much to improve standard and enhance professionalism.

    He added that so far, the demand for PR is growing in Nigeria. “There is no doubt about that. This year alone, we have attended more pitches than any other year since we opened shop. And it is instructive that some of these pitches were called by organisations that have been around for quite a while, but never before worked with a PR firm,” he said.

  • ‘Unregistered practitioners, standardisation stunt PR growth’

    ‘Unregistered practitioners, standardisation stunt PR growth’

    The President, Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), Mr. Chido Nwakama has said there are so many unregistered public relations firms in the country.

    He said the development and the absence of standard were giving the body some concern.

    He said: “There is growing professionalism in public relations practice. Many firms are coming on stream founded by certified professionals and run along professional lines but there are many more unregistered firms offering service in public relations. Our efforts at PRCAN focus on making these firms see the benefit of certification and being part of an umbrella body focused on promoting standards and the well-being for the sector.”

    He said as a result, the group is focusing on reaching a common ground on standardising the profession and ensure that pitch fees are paid by clients to agencies.

    “Another area of real concern for us in PRCAN is standardisation. We are working on formulating and agreeing standards on various areas including pitch fees, retainer bands, event management, project handling fees, and media monitoring fees, single or across print, broadcast and online and charges for third party c“Our British counterparts PRCA, prescribes 18.65 per cent, which works out as net-15percentage for third party charges.

    “We will make a pronouncement on this during the year after extensive consultations with our member agencies as well as with other stakeholders of the public relations industry,” he affirmed.

    On the budget cut in 2013, Nwakanma said: “Companies last year cut budgets for marketing communications generally. However, public relations benefited overall from these cuts, speaking in ratios.

    “When most clients cut their budgets for marcomms, they turn to the most flexible, most credible and most cost effective tool in the marcomms arsenal. That discipline is public relations with its ability to deploy many sub-sets to enable clients engage and communicate with their stakeholders,” he said.

    However, Nwakama said this year, he expected public relations to be the lodestar for marcomms.

    “Many brands are turning to public relations both for their activations, to launch the brands and to maintain their brand’s relevance with various stakeholders.

    “Use of public relations would grow even more in 2014 with the need for nuanced communication on issues, political communication, for community relations, corporate social responsibility, for engaging with consumers, activities, regulators etc. All of these challenges require the communication discipline that offers the most flexibility, credibility and value for money,” he said.

  • PRCAN holds AGM, elects new exco

    The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) will hold its 2012 Annual General Meeting (AGM) today. A major highlight of the event, which will take place at Hotel 1960 Eagles Park, Ikeja, Lagos, is the election into the executive committee of the association.

    According to PRCAN Executive Secretary Victoria Bassey, election would be conducted by a two-member election committee made up of CEO Neo Media and Marketing Ehi Braimah, and CEO Winning Concepts Public Relations Mike Meze, while the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) will send observers.

    Offices to be contested for are President, Vice President, Secretary General, Assistant Secretary General, Publicity Secretary and Treasurer. By the provisions of PRCAN Memorandum and Articles of Association (Memart) every past president automatically becomes an ex-officio member.

    The outgoing officers include Dr Phil Osagie, President; Chido Nwakanma, Vice President; and John Ehiguese, Honourable Secretary General. The others are Muyiwa Akintunde, Assistant Secretary General; Yemi Odusote, Publicity Secretary and Alima Atta, Honourable Treasurer. Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, a past president, will retain his seat as Ex-Officio member.

    The AGM will also discuss the Presidential Address on the “Statement of Affairs of PRCAN 2010-12”, and the Financial Report for the same period.

     

    PRCAN, the consulting arm of the NIPR, is established by a bye-law. Membership is exclusively restricted to consulting firms whose key executives must be NIPR members and registered to practice public relations in Nigeria. PRCAN is incorporated as a company registered by guarantee.

     

    Its primary objective is to promote professional reputation management in Nigeria within the public and private sectors. It is also committed to maintaining professional standards and discipline among members and providing facilities/professional capacity for the public and private sectors to meet their PR consultancy needs.