IABC president and international executive board chair, Robin McCasland, announced the composition of the Communication Certification Council last week stating that it "launches with a strong slate of officers representing the communication industry worldwide".
Dr Janet McCormick, associate professor at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) USA, will chair the council. Vice-chair is Dr Rajeev Kumar, of the Tata Group corporate communication in Mumbai, India.
Ikiebe has a renewable three-year term on the Council. Others to serve with him are:
The council will hold its inaugural meeting in April and focus on governance processes, background briefings and the first level of certification.
It will serve as the governing board for the new IABC certification programme. The Certification programme will be open to all communication professionals, non-IABC members inclusive, and provide a common and consistent platform for assessment.
IABC expects that the Global Certification programme will commence in 2015 and offer certification at two levels aligned with the generalist/specialist and the strategic advisor level.
Ikiebe, nominated by the IABC Nigerian chapter, has over 35 years experience in media and communication in the public and private sectors. He is a Senior Fellow and pioneer director of the Center for Leadership in Journalism at the School of Media Communication (SMC), Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, Nigeria.
He teaches graduate and executive courses in Journalism, Journalism History and Media Leadership in a school founded to professionalise journalism skills for working journalists in Nigeria. He also leads a media study tour for Nigerian media executives and CEOs to leading media institutions abroad.
The International Association of Business Communicators is a professional network of about 14000 business communication professionals in over 80 countries. Founded in 1970, IABC is devoted to professionalism in business communication and helps members "identify, share and apply the world's most effective communication practices" through thought leadership, publications, networking, conferences and cutting-edge research.
Nigerian chapter President Chido Nwakanma congratulated Ikiebe, noting that his appointment would further the recognition and growth of business communication in Africa as well as stimulate adoption of best practice paradigms by communication professionals in the private and public sectors. He called on Nigerian firms to display their talent by entering for the globally acclaimed Gold Quill Award scheme of IABC. Nigerian LNG Limited won the Africa category of the award in 2012.
