President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, says Nigeria cannot achieve significant growth without adopting development communication, a strategic approach that exposes the harmful consequences of corruption and mobilizes citizens to confront it.
Neliaku spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the fourth annual Economic Confidential conference and sixth national spokespersons awards, organized by Spokespersons Digest, a publication of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and other titles.
The event, themed “Anti-corruption reforms, economic stability and effective communication,” attracted senior government officials, security chiefs, academics, corporate executives, public relations professionals and journalists.
Neliaku presented the Personality of the Year Award for Anti-Corruption Reforms to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, who delivered the keynote address.
The NIPR President commended Aliyu for his speech, which illustrated how corruption undermines Nigeria’s economic, social, cultural and political progress. “What (the speech) you have given us is communication for development, and that is where we must go as a nation in search of development,” he said.
Neliaku said communication must go beyond the dissemination of information to provide direction, create value and contribute to national progress. “Once our communication is not relevant, then we do not add value. One area that does add value is development communication,” he added.
He argued that corruption has become pervasive in virtually all spheres of national life and must remain central to Nigeria’s growth agenda: “Corruption affects the economy, the cultural economy, the social economy and the political economy. It has become a culture that we must fight against.”
Neliaku further praised Aliyu for demonstrating that the fight against corruption can produce substantial results and said lessons from his presentation would be particularly valuable in shaping anti-corruption messages aimed at young citizens.
IMPR Executive Director Yushau A. Shuaib described the conference and awards as platforms to promote informed national discourse, recognize excellence and strengthen professional communication in Nigeria.
Shuaib launched two new books, “MNI versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Addressing Institutional Bullying” and “AI in Crisis Communication in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects.” The latter, shortlisted for the IPRA Golden World Awards 2026, examines the growing role of AI in media verification, fact-checking, institutional response and public trust during crises.
The ceremony featured awards to individuals and institutions with outstanding contributions to strategic communication, public service and national development. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Spokesperson Hakama Sidi-Ali has won the Outstanding Banking Sector Spokesperson Award for the third consecutive year.
Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, Kano State Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs (Crisis Communicator of the Year); Celestine Achi, artificial intelligence expert and communications strategist (author/academic of the year); and Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi, Print and Digital Communications Assistant to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum (Digital Communication Award).
Integrated Indigo Limited was named Public Relations Agency of the Year; Andy Odeh of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) won the Corporate Communication Award; The Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) received the Knowledge Hub award, while the NIPR Kaduna Chapter won the event management award.
Folusho Adeogun of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) won the Young Communicator Award, Basheer Lukman of Kwara Express emerged Social Media Influencer of the Year, while the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) was recognized in the Public Affairs category.
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