By Collins Yakubu-Hammer, NAN
Dr Ike Neliaku, the President and Chairman in Council of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has called on the hospitality industry to rebrand Nigeria’s image for good.
Neliaku made the call at a Conference for Hotel Managers on Wednesday in Abuja.
The conference is to prepare the hospitality sector in the territory for the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) coming up from Nov.15 to 21 at Transcorp Hiltop, Abuja.
According to Neliaku, not fewer than three thousand public relation professionals and experts from 126 countries country will participate in the Forum.
“Officials from World Bank, UN, international press associations and many others will be coming to Nigeria for the event; these are people that have the ace to advise, inform and communicate.
“If you get them, then you have gotten the major chunk of the people that redefine the impression that they had about Nigeria; and that is our joy.
“The people coming are global communication experts who knows how to weave narrative.
“The reason why we called you is because, you have the capacity to make or change the narrative for good or for bad. You are going to host them in your hotel for one week.
“When you host someone for one day, you can make a lot of impact. By the time the programme finish, you have cemented a relationship with them.
“And the impression you will leave with them is what will tell them the story of Nigeria. You now have the opportunity to change the negative narrative about Nigeria, use it well,” Neliaku said.
He further explained in details Nigeria’s strategic journey and resilience in securing the bid to host the 2026 WPRF.
He added that winning of the bid was based on power of resilience, confidence and the vision that it would help Nigeria at a time like this.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Planning Committee for 2026 WPRF, Dr Suleiman Haruna took the hotel managers on a journey of proposed activities from Nov.15 to 21.
According to him, the ways and manners the hospitality industry will treat participants will determine the story and impressions they will go back with.
He admonished them to ensure that their good hands are available to render services to participants during the one week event, and that their facilities should be effective and up to date.
In same vein, the Chairman of NIPR, FCT Chapter, Mr Stanley Ogadigo, explained that what is called global standard is actually a Nigerian culture.
“Simply put, we are here for one shared vision and goal; and that is to get the hospitality industry to practice one standard and that is global standard.
“But I want us to add that while we share that standard of hospitality, it should be hospitality garnish with Nigerian culture of acceptance, care, support and love to our visitors and friends,” Ogadigo said.
Similarly, another public relations expert, Mrs Oge Neliaku admonished the hotel managers to showcase the value of hospitality that Nigeria is known for.
According to her, the impression that participants will get from the Airport, to the transportation facilities and hotel will tell them more about the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that over 50 hotel managers across the Federal Capital Territory attended the conference (NAN)