Benue: Gov Alia is ready to partner with any group for development – Kula

The Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, has said his principal, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, is ever willing to partner with any group with a positive agenda for the betterment of the state.

Kula also assured the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Benue State Chapter, of the administration’s support and partnership in strengthening government communication and promoting the image of the state.

He gave the assurance on Tuesday when the state NIPR leadership, led by its chairman, Dr Philip Toryue, paid him a courtesy visit at his office at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi.

He said the government was prepared to collaborate with the institute on professional communication, public enlightenment, crisis management and efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation.

The CPS also disclosed that discussions had begun on establishing public relations as a recognised career structure in the Benue State Public Service. He said the issue followed deliberations at a recent joint workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and the NIPR for government spokespersons.

According to him, Governor Hyacinth Alia had been briefed on the matter and was favourably disposed to domesticating it in the state.

Kula endorsed the proposed annual training programme for government spokespersons and information officers, saying continuous professional development would help reduce misrepresentation, friction and misunderstanding among public officials.

He also pledged to work towards securing participation slots for members of the Benue NIPR chapter at the World Public Relations Forum scheduled to hold in Abuja in November.

He further assured the institute that he would support efforts to secure permanent office accommodation for the state chapter.

On the proposed NIPR manifesto debate for candidates contesting seats in the State House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship ahead of the 2027 elections, Kula said the Alia administration was willing to subject its record to public scrutiny.

He said the government would use the platform to respond to what it considers misinformation and disinformation about its activities. He also pledged to participate in the NIPR roadshow scheduled for Saturday, subject to his official engagements.

Speaking on the administration’s performance, Kula said Governor Alia assumed office with a clear vision for Benue State, adding that progress was being recorded in roads and other infrastructure, industries, education and other sectors.

He said the government would continue to consolidate its achievements for the benefit of the people, while urging NIPR to play a more active role in public orientation and the fight against the spread of false information, particularly on social media.

The CPS thanked the delegation for the visit and expressed appreciation to Governor Alia for giving him the opportunity to serve in the administration. He said effective cooperation between government and professional public relations practitioners was essential to improving public communication.

He noted that, as a statutory professional body, NIPR could not operate in isolation from the government and assured the delegation of the administration’s willingness to work with the institute.

Earlier, the NIPR chairman, Dr Philip Toryue, said the delegation visited the CPS to appreciate Governor Alia for appointing one of its members as his Chief Press Secretary, congratulate Kula on his appointment, brief him on the state of the institute in Benue and seek government support.

Toryue said the institute had more than 100 members working across ministries, departments and agencies, the media, private sector and academia. He, however, identified professional recognition, quackery and inadequate sponsorship for capacity-building programmes as some of the challenges facing the chapter.

He appealed to Kula to serve as the institute’s voice in government and advocate compliance with the NIPR Act. In particular, he urged the government to ensure that public relations, press, information and protocol positions in ministries, departments, agencies, local governments and other government institutions were occupied by NIPR-certified practitioners.

The chairman also requested government support for the establishment of an NIPR secretariat in Benue and sponsorship for at least 20 members of the chapter to attend the World Public Relations Forum in Abuja from November 14.

He sought approval for quarterly masterclasses for government spokespersons, media aides, press secretaries and local government information officers. The proposed training, he said, would cover crisis communication, media relations and government image management.

Toryue further called for the inclusion of NIPR as a technical partner in government communication campaigns on security, disease prevention, public sensitisation and other state initiatives. He also proposed an annual interaction between the Governor and public relations professionals.

He said the institute was ready to support the government in press release vetting, crisis communication, reputation management and efforts to address misrepresentation of government activities.

Toryue also announced plans for a political manifesto programme for State House of Assembly, National Assembly and governorship candidates ahead of the 2027 elections. Dr Charles Iornumbe is expected to chair the organising committee.

He equally appealed for government support for the NIPR roadshow scheduled for Saturday to promote awareness of the World Public Relations Forum.

Describing Kula as the pride of the institute, Toryue said, “When you succeed, NIPR succeeds, and when NIPR succeeds, Benue State’s image succeeds.”

Members of the delegation included Dr Charles Iornumbe, Prof. Shimenenge Atime, Thomas Yange, Mrs Vera Kanyi and Cyprian Yange, among others.