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OPARAH, Emeka

Crisis Management Expert, PR Expert, Administrator, Entrepreneur/Businessman

Emeka Oparah has over 25 years of consistent communications practice spanning journalism, advertising, public relations, events, sponsorships and corporate social responsibility. He is one of Nigeria’s leading experts in crisis communication, leadership transition and rebranding. He is reputed for managing the ownership and management crisis, seven leadership changes and six brand name changes in one of the leading telecommunications companies in Nigeria. As Vice President, Corporate Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility, he led the team that developed the strategies and executed various activities in the management of media relations, social media communications, consumer affairs, internal communications, government relations and social investments. He has deep, high-level knowledge of the working of the local and international media, government and regulatory agencies and also maintains a wide network of contacts and friends in the media, social media, various state governments and the Federal Government as well as the Nigerian Parliament (the National Assembly). Aside pioneering and establishing the corporate communications function in the…

Biographical overview

organization (which is now AIRTEL Nigeria), he also initiated and produced the first ever consumer magazine in the telecommunications industry in Nigeria, led the team that managed the ownership crisis in the organization between 2004 and 2006, anchored the first ever MTV Africa Music Awards in 2008 in Abuja Nigeria as well as Idols West Africa in 2007.

Biographical record

Gender
N/A
Profession
Crisis Management Expert
PR Expert
Administrator
Entrepreneur/Businessman
Schools Attended with Dates
SCHOOLS ATTENDED: University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1986 – 1990; The Management School, London, 2001 – 2001.
Membership of Professional Bodies/Professional Qualifications
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES:

- Member, International Public Relations Association (IPRA)
- Member, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
- Member, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)
- Member, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON)
Present Appointment
Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Jun 2002 – Present; Owner, Ethelberts.
Previous Appointments
- Editor, The Record;

- Client Service Executive, Patine Communications, 1991-1992;

- Client Service Executive, Candid Communications, 1992-1992;

- Client Service Manager, Richland Communications, 1992-1994;

- Media Relations Manager, Cadbury Nigeria Plc, May 1994 – May 2002;

- Corporate Affairs Manager, Econet Wireless, 2002 – 2004;

- Public Relations Manager, Celtel Nigeria Limited, May 2002 – Feb 2007;

- Public Relations Manager, Vmobile, 2004 – 2006;

- Head of Division: PR, Events & Sponsorships, Celtel Nigeria Limited, Feb 2007 – Dec 2007;

- Head, Corporate Communications, Zain Nigeria, Dec 2007 – May 2011;

- Vice President, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Jun 2011 – Feb 2018.
Have you ever been a member of any political party?
N/A
Awards and Honours
AWARDS AND HONOURS:

- Awarded the prestigious Bob Ogbuagu Leadership Award for his “outstanding track record” in the country’s communications industry by LaPRIGA (Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards), an award platform initiated by the Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, December 2018.
Other Relevant Information
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE:

- Leader, Airtel Employee Volunteer Scheme, Jan 2012.

Last Update Fri 22, Mar 2019

“Please send your updated CV to: [email protected]” – Editor

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