The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has launched its student chapter of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, in a landmark event organised by the Department of Strategic Communication (STRATCOM) on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

The inauguration, held at the North Campus Mini-Conference Room, attracted a distinguished audience of public relations professionals.

Prof. Mavis Amo-Mensah, Head of STRATCOM, highlighted the significance of this launch, noting that it would connect UEW students with Ghana's professional PR community, offering them valuable opportunities for mentorship, networking, and skill development.

She stated the importance of sustained collaboration between the UEW IPR Student Chapter and IPR-Ghana, aiming to enhance the competencies of PR students and contribute to the growth of public relations practice in Ghana.

Prof. Albert Agbesi Wornyo, Dean of the School of Communication and Media Studies (SCMS) at UEW and Chairman of the event, underscored the benefits of joining the IPR student chapter, including access to networking opportunities, professional growth, and staying current with industry trends.

The Special Guest, Esther A. N. Cobbah, President of IPR, Ghana and CEO of Strategic Communication Africa Ltd. (Stratcomm Africa), encouraged UEW strategic communication students to take control of their futures and become indispensable assets in their field.

She stressed the need for young professionals to deepen their PR knowledge, go beyond theoretical learning, and demonstrate their value through practical application.

Ms. Cobbah also announced enhancements to IPR-Ghana’s mentorship programs, which will now include broad, group, and individual mentorships.

She shared insights from her professional journey, emphasizing the importance of intellectual hard work, creativity, and ethical communication, particularly in the context of the upcoming elections.

She also highlighted the role of PR professionals in contributing to Ghana's development, Africa's unity, and global peace, urging students to join IPR, Ghana, to become part of a community with a powerful voice on national and international stages.

The event concluded with Ms Cobbah swearing in the newly elected executives of the UEW IPR Student Chapter, charging them to serve with integrity and transparency.

Esteemed guests, including Arik Karani, President of the African Public Relations Association (AFPRA), Samuel Mutahi, Assistant Treasurer of the Public Relations Society of Kenya, and Ivy Heward-Mills, Chair of the IPR Ghana Student Chapter Coordinating Committee, attended the ceremony, marking UEW's official entry into the IPR student chapter community.