Nigeria Welcomes Global Leaders for World Public Relations Forum

Members of public relations institutes from 126 countries will gather in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, next week for the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF). The event is set to run from 15 to 22 November.

The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, will give the keynote speech. Kenya's President, William Ruto, will be there as a special guest of honour. President Bola Tinubu will act as the chief host.

Justin Green, who is the President of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, shared this news on Friday. He spoke to participants during a digital campaign event for the WPRF in Abuja.

This programme aims to give young professionals, students studying mass communication, and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) a chance to engage in the global forum. The theme for this year's event is Responsible Communication: The World’s Voice.

Mr Green, who is also a professor, mentioned that representatives from the World Bank, African Union, Interpol, World Customs Organisation, European Commission, and several high commissioners will attend the forum.

He also announced that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has been named the world’s best public relations association for the second time in a row. They won against associations from Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and India.

“I’m delighted to announce that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has, for a second time in a row, won the best global association in the world, beating off competition from Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, India. It’s a truly great honour for NIPR to have won this award for the second time running. And it just shows you the calibre, the experience and the expertise within Nigeria.

“It is a true credit and it couldn’t have come at a better time when WPRF, the World Public Relations Forum, lands here, right here in Abuja, Nigeria next week, with 126 countries attending. This is going to be the biggest event, biggest communications and public relations forum ever staged anywhere in the world.

“Not only will it feature practitioners and academics and students from around the world, but it will, for the first time ever, have the United Nations, the African Union, the World Bank, Interpol, the World Customs, the European Commission and many, many High Ambassadors from around the world,” he said.

Mr Green further shared that 28 high commissioners from various countries will join the forum, along with state governors and other dignitaries.

“We have over, I think it’s 28 high commissioners attending this forum, as well as governors from all over the state. We equally have, as our chief host, your President, the President of Nigeria. We also have the President of Kenya, and our keynote speaker is the President of Zambia.

“So you can just see the impact that Nigeria is set to make around the world. So it’s probably been, or will be, one of the most important conferences, not only held in Nigeria, but also in the world, under the theme of responsible communication, the world’s voice,” he said.

The world public relations forum is a global meeting point for public relations practitioners, communication experts, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders. They will discuss trends and challenges in the communication field and how strategic communication can help with sustainable development.

The forum aims to promote ethical communication, build public trust, enhance professional standards, and encourage collaboration among communication professionals across nations. It also allows participants to share ideas and experiences on how new technologies, social media, misinformation, and disinformation are affecting public communication.

For Nigeria, hosting this forum is a chance to strengthen its role in the global public relations field, attract international partnerships, and showcase the skills of its communication experts. It also creates a chance for Nigerian practitioners, students, and young professionals to meet international experts, gain knowledge, and build networks that could help their careers.

In his remarks, the NIPR National President, Ike Neliaku, urged communication professionals, especially social media influencers and young practitioners, to maintain integrity and responsible communication to promote peace in Nigeria.

Mr Neliaku also encouraged members of the institute nationwide, along with young professionals, to take part actively in the global forum.