The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and communication stakeholders have called for a shared responsibility that will strengthen national unity and also safeguard the nation’s information sovereignty.
The call was made in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at the 2nd Raymond Dokpesi Diamond Lecture, with the theme ‘Communication and Development’.
The guest lecturer, Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule, stressed that leadership should be able to support and promote development.
In this vein, he noted that the State Executive Council have approved the sponsorship of the proposed NIPR University in the state.
“We needed to provide the leadership, along with our traditional ruler, along with our own security chiefs. I’m happy to inform you that the Nassarawa Executive Council have approved that we should take money for the NIPR University. And that is exactly what we are going to do. We are doing that not as an ego that we are going to have the NIPR Institute in Nassarawa State. No, we are doing that because we believe that one of the problems of Africa, and indeed Nigeria, has been leadership. Once you have the right leadership, then everything picks up. And we hope and pray that that leadership will be produced,” he noted
The President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, described the late Raymond Dokpesi as a visionary man who used communication as a tool of liberation, education, entertainment, and transformation.
“Today, as we honour his legacy, not just achievements, and no controversy that he was the founder of independent broadcasting in Nigeria, we are also reminded that the truest memorial is not in marble or monument but in continuing the work he began, the work of shaping minds, building institutions, adding value to humanity, and transforming society through communication. At the heart of Dr Dokpesi’s vision was a philosophy that aligns deeply with the very soul of our profession — Public Relations as service to society. He understood that communication is not just about media; it is about meaning. It is not merely about speaking; it is about connecting people to truth, leaders to citizens, and nations to the world”, he said
Also speaking, the Chairman of Democracy and Accountability through Responsible (DAAR) Communications, Mr Raymond Dokpesi Jnr, stressed that no nation can develop beyond its ability to communicate truth to itself, describing information sovereignty as the new frontier of national sovereignty in the digital age.
“Development begins not with infrastructure or institutions, but with clarity of vision, clarity of values, and the information that informs both. Communication binds a nation together. It carries the language of governance, the rhythm of culture, the pulse of democracy. When information becomes distorted, the foundation of development cracks, because a nation that cannot trust its own communication cannot mobilise itself towards progress. The link between communication and development is inseparable.
“A nation progresses when citizens can believe what they hear, verify what they read, and rely on the credibility of the information that guides those choices. Trust, therefore, has become the national capital. It fuels citizenship, drives participation, and sustains the unity essential for growth. When trust is lost, development falters, because no government can mobilise a people who no longer believe in the truth,” he said
On his part, the Chairman of the Occasion, Ben Obi, noted that the memorial lecture is an avenue to cherish the legacy of a media icon, Dr Raymond Dokpesi.
“As fearful as his departure may be, I’m consoled by the undeniable fact that he didn’t just check out of the earth without an impact. He left as a great man, living an indelible legacy of excellence, especially in the broadcasting industry. He also left a legacy of integrity and trust among all his close friends and all those who may have crossed his path while he was alive. Today’s event is a true reminder that a great man once lived with us. This occasion is also a stamp on the cherished legacies he left behind”, he noted
The Former Director General of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Osita Okechukwu, described the late media icon as a high-class patriot.
“In the battles he waged, some could have survived, but he waged all the battles in the interest of the Nigerian people. So, we should thank him for his legacy of being a patriot, and a courageous patriot for that matter,” he said
Other highlights of the event were the conferment of the Fellowship of NIPR on the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule.
The NIPR, in collaboration with the DAAR event, held in honour of the late media icon and founder of Democracy and Accountability through Responsible (DAAR) Communications, Dr. Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi, brought together top government officials, media professionals, and communication experts to discuss the role of communication in fostering national development and safeguarding information sovereignty.