FGN set to welcome delegates from 126 countries for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF)

FGN set to welcome delegates from 126 countries for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF)

By: Ogunseye yusuf Olawale

No fewer than 3,000 delegates from 126 countries are expected to attend the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) that will be held concurrently with the 37th African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference theme “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” scheduled for November 15–21, 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria.

The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Professor Justin Green, made the declaration recently during a joint courtesy visit he made with the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, assured that preparations were underway and that the Nigerian Government would provide the necessary support to ensure the success of the event.

“Nothing will be left undone to ensure the successful hosting of the World Public Relations Forum here in November. We are all getting prepared, and the expectations will be surpassed,”  Minister remarked

“Everyone in this country is waiting to receive you, and by extension, waiting to receive the world. This is a clear indication to me that the world is now looking up to Nigeria,” the Minister emphasised.

The forum is expected to foster knowledge-sharing, professional collaboration, and meaningful dialogue on the future of Public Relations and communication worldwide.

The event is recognised as the world’s leading platform for public relations and strategic communication professionals. It will convene influential voices from government, international organisations, business and academia.

“The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), working with the support of leading Public Relations stakeholders in Africa, is determined to host the best, biggest, and brightest World Public Relations Forum, ever held”, said Dr. Ike Neliaku, President of NIPR.

The first confirmed special guests and speakers include:

H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President of Nigeria
Chief Host

H.E. Hakainde Hichilema
President of Zambia
Keynote Speaker

Prof. Justin Green
President & CEO, Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management
Dublin, Ireland

Ms. Melissa Fleming
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications
New York, USA

Dr. (H.C.) Prita Kemal Gani
President, ASEAN Public Relations Network
Jakarta, Indonesia

Mr. Samuel Heath
Director of Communications, INTERPOL
Lyon, France

Mariya Gabriel
Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, UNESCO, and former Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria
France

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi
Chairman of the World Customs Organization Council
Netherlands

Edith Jibunoh
Director of External Relations, World Bank Group
Washington, DC, USA, 

Leslie Richer
Director of Information and Communication of African Union
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

H.E. Amb. Sbhishek Singh
High Commissioner Republic of India
Abuja, Nigeria

Mohammed Idris, fnipr
Honourable Minister of Information & National Orientation
Abuja, Nigeria

David Omwoyo Omwoyo, MBS
President of the World Association of Press Councils and Chief Executive Officer of Media Council of Kenia
Nairobi, Kenya

Henry Rugamba
Chairman of the boards of Equity Bank Uganda, Hariss International and British American Tobacco Uganda
Kampala, Uganda

Helio Fred Garcia
President, Logos Consulting Group
New York, USA

Douglas Downs
Founder and President, Stories & Strategies Inc
Calgary, Canada

Alastair McCapra
CEO, Chartered Institute of Public Relations
London, UK

H.E. Philda Nani Kereng
High Commissioner of Botswana
Abuja, Nigeria

H.R. Bambang Suharto
Ambassador, Republic of Indonesia
Abuja, Nigeria

Regine le Roux
CEO, Reputation Matters
Cape Town, South Africa

Plus many more speakers and guests to be announced.