Kennie Obateru, NNPC public affairs manager, bags NIPR fellowship

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has conferred its fellowship award on Kennie Obateru, group general manager, group public affairs division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Obateru was decorated at NIPR’s annual general meeting in Bauchi on Thursday.

He joined NNPC in 1992 as a protocol/consular officer at the public affairs department of the corporation.

He also served in various positions including general manager/head NNPC London office; public affairs manager at National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS); and public affairs manager at Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC).

Obateru was promoted to his current position at NNPC in March 2020.

The public and media relations expert is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Lagos.

He has a certificate in news reporting and bachelor’s degree in performing arts at the University of Ilorin, and obtained an MSc. in public relations from the University of Stirling, Scotland, UK.

In 2012, he was awarded a doctorate degree in management (honoris causa) by the Commonwealth University in Belize.

Obateru is a senior member of the Africa Public Relations Association (APRA) as well as a member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), NIPR and the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Ademola Adedoyin, a marketing communications expert and ace journalist was also decorated with the fellowship gold medal of NIPR.