Corporate Integrity Key To Reputation Sustanability — NNPC Foundation MD Urges Organisations.
By Victor Idajili
The Managing Director of the NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, has called on organisations to adopt strategic approach in shaping public perception, stressing that reputation management remains critical to long-term corporate survival.
Arukwe made this assertion while delivering a keynote address at the just-concluded Reputation Roundtable organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), FCT Chapter.
She emphasised that organisations must embrace proactive and strategic communication to transform negative perceptions into valuable reputational capital.
The roundtable, themed “The New Architecture of Corporate Integrity: Navigating Power, Perception & Purpose,” served as a specialised capacity-building platform for reputation managers. It attracted Directors of Public Relations and spokespersons from both public and private sectors.
Cautioning against reactive and defensive communication approaches, Arukwe, who is a Fellow of NIPR highlighted that integrity rooted in truth and consistency is fundamental to building and sustaining trust.
She noted that communication efforts must align with organisational conduct to foster credibility and positive public perception.
According to her, organisations must prioritise stakeholder engagement through transparency, consistency, and accountability, while evolving beyond profit-driven motives to embrace value-based operations that leave lasting legacies.
She further explained that the NNPC Foundation’s mandate is anchored on a stewardship philosophy, with its social investment programmes structured around measurable and transparent interventions.
In his remarks, Chairman of NIPR FCT Chapter, Mr. Stanley Ogadigo, described the roundtable as a vital platform for enhancing the competencies of communication professionals.
He noted that the initiative equips participants with the knowledge and tools required to remain relevant and deliver value within their organisations.
Ogadigo also expressed satisfaction with the level of participation and quality of discourse during the two-day programme held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Participants were trained on emerging digital tools, including the application of Artificial Intelligence in modern public relations practice.
The event drew attendance from key stakeholders across the media, military, and corporate sectors, including the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali M. Ali; Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba-Ndace; Director-General of the Army Resource Centre, Major General JGK Myam (Rtd); Chief of Civil-Military Relations, Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet; and other distinguished personalities.
