Presidency pledges support as Nigeria hosts World PR Forum

Caption: Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, receiving the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday. Credit: State House

The Presidency on Wednesday affirmed its readiness to support the forthcoming Global Alliance World Public Relations Forum, billed for November 15 to 21, 2026, in Abuja.

The event is expected to draw about 3,000 delegates from 126 member countries of the alliance under the theme, “Deepening Responsible Communications.”

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, gave the assurance when he received members of the Planning Committee of WPRF Abuja 2026 at the State House, Abuja.

The delegation was led by the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku.

The State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Abiodun Oladunjoye, revealed details of the engagement in a statement signed on Thursday titled, ‘Presidency Pledges Support as Nigeria Hosts World Public Relations Conference in Abuja.’

The forum is being organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

Onanuga expressed delight that Nigeria would host the global event and said it was incumbent on Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the country.

He also lamented the negative portrayal of Nigeria in some quarters, which he said misinformed foreigners about the country’s real narratives.

“As a Nigerian, I always feel very odd when you read online the kind of things our people put out in the public space. They say negative things about this country.

“This is a great opportunity for us to correct those things of concern to people. For me, I’ve seen the conference as something that will be good for our country, and it should be supported,” he said.

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Earlier, Neliaku told the presidential spokesperson that the committee had come to seek his support for the forum, adding that the conference would showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

He disclosed that Nigeria was the first country in Africa to be granted hosting rights for the event, noting that Mexico, India and Berlin, Germany, had hosted the forum at different times in the past.

Neliaku said a unique feature of the conference would be a signing ceremony in which delegates would commit to an accord called “The Abuja Declaration.”

He also disclosed that Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema would deliver the keynote address at the event and that President Bola Tinubu would be decorated with a lifetime Award of Excellence in Reforms during the forum.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee for the event, Dr Suleiman Haruna, told Onanuga that preparations were in top gear, adding that the committee was partnering with media organisations and security agencies to ensure the successful hosting of the event.

Also speaking, another member of the planning committee and Director-General of Strategic Communications to the Nasarawa State Government, Yakubu Lamai, said that, as part of efforts to gain the confidence of foreign counterparts, the Nasarawa State Government was building a world-class Public Relations University.

Renowned broadcaster and member of the delegation, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, said the conference would be gender-inclusive, with women and persons with disabilities carried along in its planning and execution.

She solicited the support of the Presidency, stressing that Nigeria must be ready to receive the world.

“We have to be ready as Nigerians to receive the world. It is a Nigerian thing, it is not for the Ministry,” she said.