The Presidency has pledged its support for Nigeria’s hosting of the 2026 Global Alliance World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), which is expected to attract about 3,000 delegates from 126 countries to Abuja in November.

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 global conference, scheduled to hold from November 15 to 21, is being organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

The forum, with the theme, “Deepening Responsible Communications”, is also expected to provide Nigeria with an opportunity to showcase its cultural heritage and counter negative narratives about the country before an international audience.

In a statement issued by the Director of Information and Public Relations of the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Onanuga expressed delight that Nigeria had secured the hosting rights for the major global public relations gathering, stressing the responsibility of Nigerians to serve as good ambassadors and project the country positively.

He expressed concern over what he described as the negative portrayal of Nigeria in some quarters, particularly online, saying such narratives often give foreigners a misleading impression about the country.

The presidential aide said the international conference presented an important platform for participants and organisers to address some of the misconceptions and project a more balanced picture of developments in Nigeria.

“You see, 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”, Onanuga said.

Earlier, President of the NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, who led the delegation, said the committee visited the presidential aide to seek the support of the Presidency for the successful hosting of the conference.

Neliaku said the forum would provide an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage to thousands of visitors and public relations professionals from across the world.

According to him, Nigeria is the first African country to secure the hosting rights for the global event, which had previously been hosted in countries including Mexico, India and Germany.

He disclosed that one of the major highlights of the Abuja conference would be the signing by delegates of an accord to be known as “The Abuja Declaration”.

The NIPR President also announced that Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to deliver a keynote address at the forum.

He added that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be decorated with a Lifetime Award of Excellence in Reforms during the event.

Chairman of the WPRF Abuja 2026 Planning Committee, Dr Suleiman Haruna, said preparations for the conference were already in top gear.

Haruna said the committee was working with media organisations and security agencies as part of measures to ensure the successful hosting of the international gathering.

Another member of the planning committee and Director-General of Strategic Communications to the Nasarawa State Government, Yakubu Lamai, said the Nasarawa State Government was also taking steps to boost Nigeria’s standing in the global public relations community.

Lamai disclosed that the state government was building what he described as a world-class Public Relations University, saying the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen the confidence of international stakeholders in the country’s public relations profession.

Renowned broadcaster and member of the delegation, Moji Makanjuola, said organisers were also committed to making the conference inclusive.

She said women and persons with disabilities would be adequately carried along in the programme, stressing that hosting the global event should be regarded as a national responsibility rather than an undertaking for the organisers or the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation alone.

Makanjuola appealed for the support of the Presidency and other stakeholders to ensure that the country was adequately prepared to receive thousands of international delegates.

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

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