Nigeria will lead a world marketing campaign for accountable and moral communication because the nation prepares to host the 2026 World Public Relations Discussion board (WPRF) in Abuja, the Minister of Info and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has stated.
Talking on the Nationwide Unveiling of the World Public Relations Discussion board (WPRF Abuja 2026) on Monday in Abuja, Mr Idris stated the discussion board represents “a defining second” for Nigeria’s management in world dialogue on accountable communication.
He stated internet hosting the occasion positions Nigeria as the largest, brightest, and boldest voice for moral communication in Africa and past below the management of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This gathering is a daring assertion—that below the visionary management of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is stepping ahead as the largest, brightest, and boldest voice for moral and accountable communication in Africa and past,” the minister stated.
Mr Idris stated communication, whereas central to human progress, can even trigger division and distortion when used irresponsibly—particularly in a digital period the place “phrases now journey quicker than thought, and opinions typically outrun fact.”
He stated the discussion board’s theme, “Accountable Communication: The Voice of the World,” displays the pressing want for fact, empathy, and repair to the general public good in world data trade.
“Accountable communication shouldn’t be merely about what we are saying; it’s about how, why, and to what finish we are saying it. It’s about fact, empathy, and repair to the general public good—values that align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
The minister stated President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope imaginative and prescient goals to rebuild public belief via openness, transparency, and citizen engagement, including that communication stays “the lifeblood of that belief.”
He outlined a number of ongoing reforms, together with the Nationwide Orientation Coverage and the Open Authorities Communication Framework, designed to strengthen authorities data programs and promote truthful narratives of governance and citizen inclusion.
Mr Idris additionally condemned what he described as “exterior propaganda” that seeks to undermine Nigeria’s popularity, notably false claims of non secular persecution.
“We should come to phrases with existential reputational threats to our nationwide model, the place exterior purveyors of untruth mischaracterise our nation as a vacation spot for persecution primarily based on spiritual faiths,” he stated.
“For the umpteenth time, there’s no iota of fact within the declare of a ‘Christian genocide’ in Nigeria. We should use the devices of public relations, crafted in truths and info, to reject these despicable single narratives.”
WPRF
The World Public Relations Discussion board (WPRF) is the flagship world occasion of the International Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Administration (GA) — the confederation of over 360,000 communication professionals and establishments worldwide.
In line with International Alliance, the Discussion board brings together scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to debate ethics, transparency, and communication for the general public good.
The biennial discussion board has rotated throughout main world cities since 2001 — together with Rome, Stockholm, Madrid, Toronto, Chennai, and Bali — earlier than Nigeria gained the internet hosting rights for 2026.
Internet hosting the WPRF in Abuja marks the first time in historical past the worldwide occasion will happen in Africa, positioning Nigeria on the centre of the world’s debate on communication ethics.
Nigeria’s management in moral communication
Mr Idris stated the WPRF Abuja 2026 will enable Nigeria to showcase itself as a mannequin of nationwide transformation via moral communication, innovation, and inclusive governance.
“Below President Tinubu’s management, the world is seeing a Nigeria that’s reforming, rebranding, and re-emerging—pushed by innovation, non-public sector development, and renewed worldwide confidence,” he stated.
He counseled the International Alliance, led by Justin Inexperienced, for creating the platform, and praised the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), led by Ike Neliaku, for securing Nigeria’s internet hosting rights.
Calling for moral accountability in all spheres of communication, the minister urged professionals, journalists, and residents to make fact, integrity, and empathy their guiding rules.
He stated Nigeria’s internet hosting of the WPRF will mark a turning level in world communication ethics.
“As we sit up for WPRF Abuja 2026, allow us to carry ahead the spirit of Renewed Hope—a hope that believes within the Nigerian story, the Nigerian voice, and the Nigerian future.
“Let this discussion board mark the second Africa’s largest democracy led the world in defining what it means to speak with conscience,” he added.
NIPR takes world PR discussion board 2026 world, begins worldwide unveiling in Dubai
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) says preparations for the WPRF Abuja 2026 have entered the worldwide part, with the worldwide unveiling of the occasion set to happen in Dubai below the management of Mr Inexperienced, president of the International Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Administration.
Talking with journalists shortly after the Nationwide Unveiling in Abuja, Mr Neliaku, stated the Dubai occasion would mark the beginning of a worldwide unveiling collection designed to place Nigeria as a world hub for moral communication.
In line with him, after the Dubai unveiling, the following phases will happen in Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and later throughout African nations, together with Zambia and Kenya, forward of the 2026 Discussion board.
“We’re all assembling in Dubai for the International Unveiling, which will likely be led by the President of the International Alliance and members of the Board,” Mr Neliaku stated.
“Thereafter, we go to Europe, Asia, North America, South America, after which different nationwide unveiling ceremonies. For example, in March 2026, we’re going to Zambia for the Zambian Unveiling, then we are going to go to Kenya, and so forth.”
He stated Nigeria intends to make the 2026 Discussion board the “greatest, brightest, and boldest” ever held for the reason that creation of the WPRF, describing it as a uncommon alternative to put the nation on the worldwide communication map.
“For us to be on the worldwide communication map is the primary time it’s occurring in Nigeria, and we take it very significantly,” he stated. “By the grace of God, we are going to give the world what they’ve by no means recognized or seen, and they’re going to look again and say, Up, Nigeria!”
Mr Neliaku stated the internet hosting would entice vital advantages for Nigeria, including financial influence, skilled publicity, and reputational worth.
He disclosed that over 3,000 delegates from 126 nations are anticipated to attend the occasion in Abuja, noting that the Discussion board would deliver collectively world communication advisers who affect presidents, ministers, and company leaders.
“We predict about 3,000 individuals who will come right here to spend their cash, purchase issues, pay for lodging and feeding,” he stated. “However extra importantly, the popularity benefit—you can not quantify it. Having 126 nations come right here to debate our nation offers us three values: reputational, skilled, and monetary.”
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The NIPR president stated Nigeria’s internet hosting rights have been secured after a extremely aggressive worldwide course of, underscoring the nation’s rising relevance in world communication management.
He additionally urged the Nigerian authorities to offer full institutional and logistical help to make sure the success of the Discussion board.
“All we’re praying is that the Nigerian authorities will take it significantly and do all that’s wanted for this chance to not slip off our palms,” he stated.
