By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Kaduna State’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, Hon. Ahmed Maiyaki, has declared that the hosting of the 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) and the 63rd NIPR AGM and Conference (CrocCity 2026) is “not just another gathering, but a national validation of the Kaduna Peace Model.”

Speaking at the inauguration of committees for the April 2026 event, Maiyaki said the state government is “fully committed to providing every support required to ensure the success of the conference,” adding that Kaduna’s community-led peace and development approach anchored by traditional institutions has become a model worthy of national recognition.

“This government allows every policy and every project to be community-led,” he said.

While expressing concern over recent security incidents in Niger State, Maiyaki stressed that Kaduna’s safety is closely tied to that of neighbouring states. “Kaduna will only be fully secure when Niger State is secure,” he noted.

Maiyaki highlighted Kaduna State’s recent climb in national reform rankings as further proof of readiness to host the conference. Citing the 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report released by PEBEC, he said Kaduna emerged second-best performing state after Lagos, reflecting what he described as “a transparent, efficient and investor-friendly environment.”

He added that the state’s movement from “red” to “amber” in national reform ratings by the British government, reinforces that Kaduna is safe, stable and open for major national events such as CrocCity 2026.

Earlier, Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the NIPR, Malam Haroun Malami, said the NPRW conference reflects collective commitment to excellence, professionalism, and national development.

"Hosting this prestigious event is not merely an administrative task, it is an opportunity to showcase the strength, creativity, and organisational capacity of our state, as well as the enduring relevance of our institute in shaping national discourse and progress", he stated.

The chairman charged members of the inaugurated committees to demonstrate collaboration, commitment and innovation to deliver a successful hosting.

Malami will chair the Conference Planning/General Finance Committee, while Mohammed Abdullahi will lead the Accommodation, Venue and Logistics Committee. The Media and Publicity Committee will be chaired by Garba Muhammad, a communications consultant; Portia Stephanie Aji will head the Security Committee; and the Panelists and Rapporteurs Committee will be chaired by renowned communicator Ahmed Balarabe Sa’id.

In his goodwill message, the visiting Chairman of the Niger State NIPR Chapter, Mallam Mahmud Abdullahi, congratulated Kaduna for securing the hosting rights, urging all northern states to rally behind Kaduna. “Kaduna is the centre of the North; if it succeeds, the entire northern region shares in the glory,” he said.

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