By Adewole Kehinde
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was established on April 1, 1977. In addition to its exploration activities, the Corporation was given powers and operational interests in refining, petrochemicals and products transportation as well as marketing.
Between 1978 and 1989, NNPC constructed refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt and took over the 35,000-barrel Shell Refinery established in Port Harcourt in 1965.
Let me first of all define the meaning of Public Affairs. It is a term used to describe an organization’s relationship with stakeholders. These are individuals or groups with an interest in the organization’s affairs, such as politicians, civil servants, customers and local communities, clients, shareholders, trade associations, think tanks, business groups, charities, unions and the media.
Today’s world is a world of communication and in every second, millions of information units are exchanged in the world.
Since development of human life improves, thus increase need to information and communication everyday increased and nowadays having accurate and up to date information for people is the important and people with more information will be more successful.
Public relations in organizations in terms of work quality means to assist organization management in achieving organizational goals, believe in transparency affairs and accountability, and respect citizens’ rights.
Since the appointment of Kennie Obateru as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in March 2020, the NNPC has created two-way communication between it and the public through which they both try to understand and cooperate with each other and eliminate misunderstanding.
No wonder that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) conferred its fellowship award on Kennie Obateru at its Annual General Meeting in Bauchi on Thursday May 20th, 2021.
The Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been open to Journalists and stakeholders since July 2019 when Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari took over as the Group Managing Director.
By July 2021, the Group Public Affairs Division will be publishing its 71st Monthly Financial and Operations Report; in keeping with the Corporation’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC has been promoting mutual understanding with audiences. The Division has been having a reciprocal relationship between internal and external of organization and up to date and useful information and appears a necessity of the real public relations in Public Affairs Division.
I would also like to list some important characteristics I have noticed at the Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC; Flexibility, seeing the bigger picture, building relationships, knowledge, strong writing, honesty, attention to detail and thick skin.
The Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC has proved that public relations and media are two important factors of informing the society that has together helped the free flow of information and the Corporation’s reputation and trust of the people
There is no doubt that excellent work must always be recognized and differentiated as such. High performers are intrinsically motivated by doing excellent work and producing something that impresses others. The Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC deserves my appreciation and recognition.
I believe positive feedback like mine here should make the Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC feel recognized and appreciated, it identifies what they have done right and thus gives them a clue to what they should do more of and it makes negative feedback and constructive criticism easier to accept and integrate.
To the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division Of The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Kennie Obateru, I will say the way you handled the Division showed resilience, experience, knowledge, and critical thinking.
To the entire team of the Group Public Affairs Division, thank you for your tremendous information sharing. Without your diligence, hard work, late nights and early mornings, we in the media and the general public wouldn’t have been well informed. Excellent work!
To the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari and its entire management, I am always left astounded at the level of dedication and hard work you all put in everyday activities of the Corporation. May you all reach every height of success!
Adewole Kehinde is the Publisher of Swift Reporters and Public Affairs Analysts based in Abuja and can be reached via 08166240846, 08123608662
