Brands/Products
The Future of Public Relations in a Changing World: A PR Measurement Perspective
By Austin Ayaosi
July 16 of every year is a day set aside for Public Relations practitioners across the world to celebrate and reflect on the practice of Public Relations. Public Relations has evolved greatly in practice and purpose as a result of the tasks and responsibilities placed on it by organisations. This ever-expanding responsibility drives PR practitioners to constantly innovate and adapt to the changing world.
Over the years, Public Relations has developed tremendously; from embracing rapid changes in technology to adapting to changes in audience behaviours, and social, economic, cultural, and societal expectations as influenced by the dynamic world we live in. As the world continues to move rapidly, Public Relations consistently aligns and realigns its role with the changing business environment to build sustainable win-win relationships and engagements between organisations and stakeholders, including the society where organisations conduct business.
Public Relations is arguably the most efficient and cost-saving department of an organisation, doing more for less. Practitioners use their relationships to secure major news coverage for free, end a crisis with one phone call or solve a major regulatory challenge within minutes; yet, sometimes the profession does not get the deserved credit during Management Review meetings.
One of the pain points of PR practitioners globally is that the profession is not given adequate recognition for its impact on organisations. For instance, only a few organisations in Nigeria provide an opportunity for PR practitioners to attain the zenith of the profession, which is becoming a member of the Board. This challenge of PR being undervalued and underrepresented in the boardroom may be linked to how the Board perceives the functions of Public Relations from a corporate perspective.
It is important to note that to secure a seat at the Table, a department has to show the impact it has on the organisation in clear, measurable and convincing ways, using mostly data (numbers) to show a cause-effect correlation to gauge the impact of the department on the organisation. The Public Relations/Corporate Communications department is not an exception. It is assessed just like every other department from a standpoint of: ‘What and how have you contributed to achieving the organisation’s overall business goals rather than how many press materials did you get published or aired in the media?’
Meanwhile, amid the silent protest among practitioners that PR is underrepresented on the Board, those who have found ways to show the value of their work by either measuring and reporting on what matters to the Board or making what they measure matter to the Board have been offered a seat at the Table. Some practitioners who have earned a seat at the Table include Emeka Oparah of Airtel Africa Group, Bola Atta of United Bank for Africa, Femi Adeniran of Airtel Nigeria, and a few others.
The route for Public Relations to earn a seat at the Table lies in measurement, evaluation and research. As a Public Relations professional with over a decade of experience in measurement, evaluation and research, I advise practitioners to find ways to either measure what matters to the Board or make what you measure matter to the Board.
Even though some PR/Corporate Communications managers understand the importance of measurement and evaluation, they often face a hurdle because most organisations in Nigeria do not have a budget for Public Relations measurement and evaluation. To address the challenge, PR/Corporate Communications managers should create a ‘PR Research Budget’ to address the no-measurement-budget challenge by dedicating a certain percentage of their annual PR budget to measurement, evaluation and research.
The future of Public Relations in terms of giving the profession the rightful accolades rests largely on the perceived impact of the profession in organisational growth by those who determine the departmental allocation of resources in an organisation. The more impactful a department is perceived, the more resources and attention are given to the department. For Public Relations to be recognised for its immense contributions to an organisation, PR/Corporate Communications managers need to show how what they do contributes to achieving the overall corporate goals of the organisation. This can only be done effectively through a holistic measurement and evaluation framework to pinpoint the effects of PR/Corporate Communications in achieving overall corporate goals in clear, measurable and convincing ways.
Austin Ayaosi is the Lead Analyst at BrandImpact Consulting
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Residents of Egbin, Ijede, and Ipakan in Lagos State recently trooped out for the 7th Annual Medical Outreach of Egbin Power.
The three-day medical outreach was organised in partnership with a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as Livewell Initiative in line with the power-generating company’s commitment to ensuring healthy lives and well-being of its host communities.
This programme also aligns with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) – Good Health and Well-being.
The outreach attracted over three thousand people, including children, adults and nursing mothers, who enjoyed cardiovascular, arthritis, dental, eye-check, diabetes tests, malaria treatment, hepatitis screening, and blood pressure examination.
It was gathered that eyeglasses, dental kits, and medications were administered at no cost to the residents after careful examination by qualified medical practitioners.
“At Egbin Power, we recognise that the health and well-being of our host communities is crucial to our success. This medical outreach programme is one of the ways we demonstrate our commitment to giving back to our host communities.
“It is also in alignment with our commitment to SDG 3 and we believe that access to quality healthcare is a fundamental right, and we will continue to work towards making it a reality for all,” the Head of Corporate Communications and Branding at Egbin Power, Mr Felix Ofulue, stated.
“We are proud to partner with Egbin Power on this medical outreach programme. Together, we are making a positive difference in the lives of the people in these communities,” the Managing Director of Livewell Initiative, Dr Bisi Bright, said.
Also speaking at the event, the Aro of Egbin Kingdom, Mr Olayemi Olukunga, said, “We are grateful to Egbin Power for their kindness and generosity. This medical outreach programme has become an annual tradition that we look forward to, and we appreciate the positive impact it has on our community.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Wasilat Ogundipe, thanked Egbin Power for the gesture, saying, “It affords us timely access to free medical examinations, enabling our children, parents and vulnerable community members to address their health concerns.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
International Workplace Group (IWG), the world’s largest provider of hybrid working solutions with notable brands like Spaces and Regus, is opening two state-of-the-art flexible workspaces in Lagos to meet the rising demand.
The addition of IWG’s latest locations, HQ Lagos Lekki Link Bridge and Regus Lagos Mansard Place, followed the business posting its highest-ever revenue, cashflow and earnings growth in its history and achieving rapid network growth, signing 465 new locations in the first half of 2024 alone.
According to the company, the adoption of hybrid working rapidly is accelerating across Nigeria and these new locations in Lagos are part of the drive by IWG to meet the sharply rising demand for top-class flexible working space in the area.
Its unique offering will enable local people to experience living in a “15-minute” city, allowing workers to work close to their homes without commuting far from where they live.
The HQ workspace is set to open in Lekki in March 2025 and will It will be located on the 2nd and 3rd floor while the Regus location at Mansard Place (situated at Plot 928, Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Victoria Island) will be on the 3rd floor of the six storey building and will open in February 2025.
The buildings will provide space for established firms and start-ups across a range of industries, while IWG’s Design Your Own Office service allows companies to tailor their space entirely to their requirements. The new locations will include facilities including private offices, meeting rooms, co-working and creative spaces.
With explosive market growth as companies of all sizes adopt hybrid working for the long-term, it is predicted that 30 per cent of all commercial real estate will be flexible workspace by 2030 and IWG believes that partners will be able to capitalise on this fast-growing sector,
The potential for further growth is exponential with an estimated 1.2 billion white collar workers globally and a total addressable market of more than £1.57 trillion. Conventional office occupancy will continue to fall as businesses require less traditional space and turn to flexible workspace instead.
Last year alone, IWG welcomed over 800 new partner locations and counts 83 per cent of Fortune 500 companies among its customer base.
Speaking on this, Mr Mark Dixon, CEO & Founder of International Workplace Group Plc, commented: “We are establishing a stronger and much-needed footprint in Nigeria with this these latest openings.
“As an important business hub Lagos is a fantastic place for us to boost our expansion plans. The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal.
“We are very pleased to work in partnership with Sterling Bank and APD Mansard Place to develop the brand under a management agreement that will add a cutting-edge workspaces to their the buildings.
“Our openings in Lagos comes at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment. Our workplace model is also proven to increase productivity and allows for a business to scale up or down at significantly reduced costs.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Another award has been added to the shelves of Airtel Nigeria for the quality service it offers its numerous subscribers.
At the 14th Nigerian NewsDirect Awards held at the Lagos Oriental Hotel on Friday, December 6, 2024, the company went home with the Most Preferred and Admired Telecommunications Brand award.
The chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, thanked the news platform for the recognition, reiterating the dedication of the organisation towards the growth of Nigeria.
“At Airtel, we remain steadfast in our mission to enrich lives and contribute to the sustainable growth of our nation, and we are proud to receive this award as the Most Preferred and Admired Telecommunications Brand.
“This recognition reaffirms our commitment to connecting Nigerians, driving digital inclusion, and empowering communities through innovative solutions,” he said.
The ceremony, themed Achieving Economic Prosperity: The Role of Human Capacity Development, Fiscal Prudence, and Revenue Generation, celebrated outstanding contributions made by individuals and corporate organisations to national development across sectors and industries.
The chairman of Odu’a Investment Limited, Mr Bimbo Ashiru, thanked all participating entities for their “continuous contributions and support to the nation’s growth.”
“You have demonstrated excellence and have significantly contributed to Nigeria’s progress and we believe this platform will continue to highlight and encourage best practices across industries,” he stated.
The event attracted several persons, including the chairman of the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), Mr Ayodele Subair; and the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr Hussaini Ishaq Magaji; among others.
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