NIPR and Its Members: A Look at Yushau Shuaib's Memoir

The NIPR has built a strong reputation as Nigeria’s top body for public relations, stakeholder engagement, and reputation management. Because of this reputation, the story in this memoir raises questions about whether better communication and support could have led to a better resolution.

Public relations experts often guide organizations on how to handle crises, engage stakeholders, manage their reputation, and resolve conflicts. They recommend talking things out instead of fighting, finding middle ground instead of going to court, and showing kindness before things escalate.

But what happens when a seasoned public relations expert feels these principles were ignored by the organizations that claim to uphold them?

This is the main issue in MNI Versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying, a new 205-page memoir by Yushau A. Shuaib. He is a veteran in the field and the CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), which publishes PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest.

While much of the public discussion about the book focuses on Shuaib’s legal issues with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the memoir tells a deeper story. It goes beyond personal problems and looks at the mix of institutional discipline, professional loyalty, constitutional rights, and the human cost of disputes.

One of the most moving parts of the memoir is the chapter titled “The NIPR Betrayal.” In this section, Shuaib talks about his disagreements with NIPSS and the painful feeling of being let down by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), especially under its current President, Dr Ike Neliaku.

The author says while facing challenges at NIPSS was tough, the reaction from the professional body he served for over 30 years was even harder to deal with.

“If the episode with NIPSS was turbulent, what followed with my own professional body was even more emotionally complex,” he writes.

Shuaib shares that he personally paid ₦18.5 million to participate in the Senior Executive Course at NIPSS after being nominated by NIPR without funding. He expected support from the Institute during a tough time in his career. Instead, he got a notice to appear before an NIPR Investigating Panel right after he left the NIPSS program.

To understand why this part of the memoir is so powerful, one must know about Shuaib’s long history with the Institute. His career reflects the growth of public relations in Nigeria. He received the NIPR President’s Prize for Best Graduating Public Relations Student at Bayero University in Kano in 1992. He was later named Public Relations Person of the Year for Kano/Jigawa in 1995. Over the years, he expanded his work to include media, publishing, and strategic communication.

The memoir also highlights small incidents that became important to Shuaib. One involved an invitation that called him ANIPR instead of MNIPR, even though he had been a member since 1995. While another letter corrected this, Shuaib felt it showed that his long service was being overlooked.

At first, he hesitated to attend the panel meeting because it clashed with a medical appointment. But he eventually went, bringing his oldest son and his team with him. In a detailed statement, he defended his actions, insisting he did not write or edit the PRNigeria news report that triggered the first disciplinary issue with NIPSS. He also claimed that the second issue over a professional article was based on the wrongful interception of a private email, which he compared to cybercrime.

Throughout the memoir, Shuaib argues that his legal actions were taken in his personal capacity and were never meant to shame the NIPR. He believes the Institute focused more on his legal pursuit than on his claims about privacy violations and damage to his reputation.

Another part of the memoir points out an irony in the situation. Shuaib does not hold a grudge against NIPSS Director-General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, for being made an Honorary Fellow of the NIPR months later. But he notes that this honor came at a time when he felt increasingly alone in the profession.

“I do not begrudge Professor Omotayo the recognition,” he writes. “Still, I could not ignore the irony of the moment. I leave it to history, and to the reader, to judge.”

The memoir also touches on the National Spokespersons Awards, which IMPR started before signing a three-year agreement with the NIPR in November 2023 to manage the awards together. Shuaib says IMPR was responsible for the planning and management of the event until November 2026. However, he claims the partnership ended in 2025 without prior notice.

Shuaib believes this decision is linked to the ongoing controversy around his NIPSS situation. Thus, he sees NIPR’s actions as a major disappointment rather than just a business decision.

Beyond documenting personal issues, this memoir raises big questions about how institutions treat their members. How should professional groups react when one of their own faces public troubles? Should they prioritize relationships over standing by their members until the facts are clear? Can disciplinary actions happen alongside compassion and open communication? Where should the line be drawn between protecting an organization’s reputation and respecting individual rights?

These questions go beyond one person or one group. As an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (ANIPR), I know that every organization has a duty to enforce its rules and protect its reputation. At the same time, every member deserves fair treatment and a chance to speak without bias.

That is why the issues raised in this memoir need careful thought, not just emotional reactions.

The NIPR has a strong reputation as Nigeria’s top body for public relations. This memoir asks whether better dialogue and support could have led to a less divisive situation.

Whether readers agree with Shuaib or not, MNI Versus MNIPR in NIPSS: Tackling Institutional Bullying does what a good memoir should do: it makes people think.

It encourages readers to consider the responsibilities institutions have to their members and the duties members have to their institutions. It also looks at the balance between discipline, loyalty, and fairness.