By Ikechukwu Nmerengwa
HE lives as one born for service to his profession and to the larger society. He has prepared himself well for these roles that transverse different sectors.
Thursday, 23 April 2026 when the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, inducted Chido Benedict Nwakanma as a Fellow, it was a coronation, a celebration of the journey of a worthy individual who has dedicated his resources to the elevation and extension of PR practice to parts that many ignore.
His dedication to the profession is rare. Hardly, anyone reports PR practices, events and industry developments more than him.
Variously described as a communication strategist, marketer and scholar with extensive media and industry experience consulting in Nigeria and Africa, these descriptions barely scratch the expanses of his rich reach.
Nwakanma has cross-cutting expertise in communication development, execution, branding and identity, content development, custom publishing, media engagement, editing. He is a regular podium speaker, and more.
He writes extensively on cultures’ impacts on the different things that do. His book reviews are journeys that intersect art and life.
Nwakanma harvests moments for their PR values with a facility that tells a bit about his attention to details for the profession he adores, and the development of humanity.
A holder of an Upper Honours BA in Mass Communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, MSc Sociology from the University of Lagos, and MSc Media Communication of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, where he is currently researching a PhD in Media and Communication, and teaches.
He draws deeply from his academic background for nuanced engagements.
There is hardly a subject he explains to you that you would not understand. He has not been successful, though, in explaining Nigeria.
When he writes news, features, commentaries, or on his social media platforms, you would think that is all about him. The high volume of his productions has not affected their depth. Even where his works are thematic, they are still epistemic.
Media Relations Playbook: 25 Proven and Effective Hacks, Nwakanma’s 2024 book, received the 2024 Lapriga Award of the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations for Best Book in Public Relations Education. It continues receiving rev reviews for the new frontiers it articulated and prescribed for the enrichment of professional practice. PR practitioners, students, and general readers have found it insightful in the quest for PR knowledge.
Nwakanma is Chief Executive of Blueflower Limited, a strategic communication firm. He had been Chief Executive of Taijo Wonukabe Limited; Export, Institutional Sales as well as Media Relations Manager at Cadbury Nigeria Plc.
He was General Editor of BUSINESS magazine and Regional Correspondent, covering the South-South and South-East, based in Port Harcourt, for the defunct ThisWeek magazine. He is Businessday’s Editor-at-Large.
A remarkable voice in Nigerian and African communication circles, Nwakanma was President of the International Association of Business Communicators, Nigeria and was President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria, PRCAN, (2012-14).
Nwakanma holds memberships of professional bodies including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria, ARCON, and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations UK.
As Adjunct Faculty in the School of Media & Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Nwakanma teaches undergraduate and postgraduate diploma courses in the History and Development of Nigerian Media, News Reporting, News Writing and Editing.
He also supports professional education programmes with courses in Business Communication, Professional Writing, Development Communication, Media Trends, and Public Relations.
The induction of Nwakanma into Nigerian Institute of Public Relations is an invitation of a great asset to the Fellowship of a great Institute whose role in managing Nigeria is on the rise, beyond optics.
Congratulations, Chido Nwakanma, Fellow, NIPR.
