Members of public relations institutes from 126 countries will converge on Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, next week for the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), scheduled to hold from 15 to 22 November.

The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, will deliver the keynote address, while his Kenyan counterpart, William Ruto, will attend as a special guest of honour. President Bola Tinubu will serve as the chief host.

Justin Green, President of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, the global umbrella body for public relations associations across 126 countries, disclosed this on Friday while addressing participants at a digital campaign programme for the WPRF in Abuja.

The programme was designed to give young professionals, undergraduate students of mass communication and members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) an opportunity to participate actively in the global forum, which is themed Responsible Communication: The World’s Voice.

Mr Green, a professor, said representatives of the World Bank, African Union, Interpol, World Customs Organisation, European Commission and several high commissioners would also attend the forum.

He also announced that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) had won the award for the world’s best public relations association for the second consecutive time, defeating competing 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 disclosed that 28 high commissioners from different countries would participate in the forum, alongside 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 platform that brings together public relations practitioners, communication experts, academics, policymakers and other stakeholders to discuss emerging trends and challenges in the communication industry and explore how strategic communication can contribute to sustainable development.

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The forum seeks to promote ethical communication, strengthen public trust, improve professional standards and encourage collaboration among communication professionals across countries. It also provides an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas and experiences on the impact of emerging technologies, social media, misinformation and disinformation on public communication.

For Nigeria, hosting the forum offers an opportunity to strengthen its position in the global public relations industry, attract international partnerships and showcase the expertise of its communication professionals. It also provides a platform for Nigerian practitioners, students and young professionals to interact with international experts, acquire knowledge and build networks that could strengthen their careers.

Preaching responsible communication

In his remarks, the NIPR National President, Ike Neliaku, urged communication professionals, particularly social media influencers and young practitioners, to uphold integrity and responsible communication in promoting peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.

Mr Neliaku also called on members of the institute across the country, as well as young professionals, to participate actively in the global forum.

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Tinubu, two African presidents to attend as Nigeria hosts 126 countries for World Public Relations Forum

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