• Latest
  • Trending
Why we celebrate Emeka Oparah as VP comms and CSR of Airtel Africa

Why we celebrate Emeka Oparah as VP comms and CSR of Airtel Africa

April 20, 2024
Peace Keepers Assembly SOAR 2024

SOAR 2024 – Peace Keepers Assembly to host highly anticipated annual prophetic conference.

August 14, 2024
Storytelling in Content Marketing

The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Public Perception

June 5, 2024
WPRD Festival Laumch

The Future of PR in a Changing World

May 17, 2024
WPRD Festival Laumch

Join the 2024 World PR Day Festival: Shaping the Future of Public Relations

May 3, 2024
Revolutionizing Public Relations: How AI Shapes PR and Reputation Management

Revolutionizing Public Relations: How AI Shapes PR and Reputation Management

May 13, 2024
AfricanExcellenceAward2016

Last call for entries: the second edition of the African Excellence Awards

April 20, 2024

“Everything Else is Public Relations”

April 20, 2024

AfricaCommsWeeks Officially Begins Today

April 20, 2024

Inside ‘public relations, thoughts and deeds’

April 20, 2024

PR Pitches Getting Lost in the Abyss? This Storytelling Advice Will Help the Right People Find Them.

April 20, 2024
Marketing Edge bags PR Magazine of the Year award at LaPRIGA 2021

Marketing Edge bags PR Magazine of the Year award at LaPRIGA 2021

April 20, 2024

Spokesperson’s Communication Awards will Promote PR Best Practices- NIPR President

April 20, 2024
Daily PR Africa
Friday, May 9, 2025
Subscription
Advertise
  • Home
  • PR News
  • Blogs
  • PR Events
  • Social &Digital PR
  • Women In PR
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Daily PR Africa
No Result
View All Result

Why we celebrate Emeka Oparah as VP comms and CSR of Airtel Africa

April 20, 2024
in Home, PR News, Social &Digital PR

The high decibel celebration of Emeka Oparah as vice president of communication and corporate social responsibility Airtel Africa is helpful and heartwarming. Oparah’s elevation to the high office has richer and broader significance than the social optics. It is a milestone and forerunner in the public relations arm of Nigerian IMC.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

SOAR 2024 – Peace Keepers Assembly to host highly anticipated annual prophetic conference.

The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Public Perception

As VP comms and CSR Airtel Africa, Oparah will coordinate Airtel’s reputation management in 14 countries. He is the director to whom other directors report. Emeka Oparah is now the highest-ranked public relations executive in Nigeria.

He joins the pantheon of greats such as Sir Alex Nwokedi, Mazi Mike Okereke, who the Public Relations Society of America recognized with a lifetime achievement award, Victor Ogundipe, who changed bank public relations in Nigeria, and Prof Pat Utomi, who bestrode public relations at Volkswagen of Nigeria and rose to the top executive post. Before him were Obi Emekekwue at Afrieximbank and Victor Oladokun at the AfDB. There are many others. The difference is that they all managed in-country operations. Oparah’s is continental.

Emeka’s work at Airtel is compelling justification. In appraisal terms, he scores Exceeds. What did Emeka Oparah do at Airtel?
He deployed PR as the lodestar in the IMC mix. During many seasons, the efficacious public relations of Airtel gave it more share of voice than its budget could fetch. He was first-line and upfront in building the Airtel brand and its previous incarnations. They include Econet Wireless, Vmobile, Celtel, Zain and Airtel.
Oparah grew his portfolio to the highest level in the Career Roadmap as outlined by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). The steps are Foundation, Generalist/Specialist, Strategic Advisor and Business Leader.

IABC says: “A business leader plays a crucial role in shaping the organization’s future by advocating for promising people, programs, and ideas that align with the organization’s direction. They lead the application of the principles within their organization and hold the leadership to account. They have developed competence in several areas and are well-regarded in the profession, often operating in a global, national, or regional role. They effectively represent the organization on critical strategic issues and contribute counsel, coaching and function at a peer level with other senior executives.”

As a business leader, Oparah contributed several times to get the best possible deals for Airtel by deploying his rich Rolodex and networking. One instance was a confluence of need and opportunity. The company needed to pass cables through Lekki Phase 1 to its data centre. The residents association would not hear of it. The alternative would cost millions of dollars. Oparah activated his network, found that the association had a pressing need to equip the police station and got Airtel to back them as CSR and community relations. The association reciprocated. It was one blow, seven akpus in a positive sense.

This man works hard and plays hard. His trajectory is a lesson in managing your senior direct report. He successfully managed about seven CEOs, handling their peculiarities while focused on the umbrella brand.

Significantly, Emeka Oparah made a case for public relations in corporate management. The Division he led became integral to the direction of the company. A survey by PRCAN in 2014 under my leadership showed that member agencies offered services in 21 specialisms of public relations. They include advocacy, brand building, behavior change communication, corporate communication, community relations, consumer PR, crisis and risk communication. Others are digital and social media, documentation, government relations and lobbying, internal relations and employee communication, media relations, reputation management and tracking, research and issues management, CSR and more. My upcoming book has the details!

The Emeka Oparah-led corporate comms team at Airtel managed to cram many of these into its armoury. Under Oparah, Airtel worked harmoniously with external counsel. He managed The Quadrant Company, Blueflower Limited and CMC Connect. Oparah brings vast experience, knowledge, and exposure to his portfolio. Airtel just made a winning bet. I am confident that he will acquit himself creditably and confirm public relations as a strategic and essential management discipline in this century.
Emeka Oparah deployed his savoir-faire in public relations to build two brands outside of work. They are the clothing line Ethelberts and the social media spoof Mofeto Miracle Church of Latter-Day Saints! Talk about having fun while you work.

God speed, brother. I toast to your success.

Story by : CHIDO NWAKANMA

Tags: #corporaterelations#PublicRelationsDailyPRAfrica
ShareTweetPin
Previous Post

Women in PR Ghana Launches Membership for Female Professionals and Students

Next Post

Ayeni Adekunle Turns Black House Media to Global Firm

Related Posts

Peace Keepers Assembly SOAR 2024
Blogs

SOAR 2024 – Peace Keepers Assembly to host highly anticipated annual prophetic conference.

August 14, 2024
Storytelling in Content Marketing
Blogs

The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Public Perception

June 5, 2024
WPRD Festival Laumch
PR Events

The Future of PR in a Changing World

May 17, 2024
WPRD Festival Laumch
Blogs

Join the 2024 World PR Day Festival: Shaping the Future of Public Relations

May 3, 2024
Revolutionizing Public Relations: How AI Shapes PR and Reputation Management
Home

Revolutionizing Public Relations: How AI Shapes PR and Reputation Management

May 13, 2024
AfricanExcellenceAward2016
Home

Last call for entries: the second edition of the African Excellence Awards

April 20, 2024
Next Post
Ayeni Adekunle Turns Black House Media to Global Firm

Ayeni Adekunle Turns Black House Media to Global Firm

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Search

No Result
View All Result

Recent News

Peace Keepers Assembly SOAR 2024

SOAR 2024 – Peace Keepers Assembly to host highly anticipated annual prophetic conference.

August 14, 2024
Storytelling in Content Marketing

The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Public Perception

June 5, 2024
WPRD Festival Laumch

The Future of PR in a Changing World

May 17, 2024
Peace Keepers Assembly SOAR 2024 Peace Keepers Assembly SOAR 2024 Peace Keepers Assembly SOAR 2024
blog_pr is now

We bring you the best Premium WordPress Themes that perfect for news, magazine, personal blog, etc. Check our landing page for details.

Recent News

  • SOAR 2024 – Peace Keepers Assembly to host highly anticipated annual prophetic conference.
  • The Power of Storytelling in Shaping Public Perception
  • The Future of PR in a Changing World

Our Newsletter

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2024 Daily PR Africa - PR News in Africa and More <!--Daily PR Africa.-->

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • PR News
  • Blogs
  • PR Events
  • Social &Digital PR
  • Women In PR
  • Contact

© 2024 Daily PR Africa - PR News in Africa and More <!--Daily PR Africa.-->

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version