The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inaugurated a 22-man National Planning Committee (NPC) ahead of its 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) billed to hold in Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the event organised by Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management in partnership with NIPR will be a gathering of public relations professionals from over 126 countries.
The members of the committee inaugurated include, Dr Suleiman Haruna, Chairman, and Malam Yakubu Lamai, Co-Chairman, Mrs Mariam Sanusi, Prof Rotimi Olatunji, retired former CP, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Ms Inimfon Etuk, Mrs Veronica Abuede, Dr Yusuf Mu’azu, Yeye Aisha Gambari, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, and Ms Eberechukwu Emeribe.
Other members include; Dr Mohammed Abubakar, Dr Tope Ojeme, Dr Nelson Omenugha, Mrs Olubunmi Badejo, Mr Victor Agi, Ms Fatima Buba, Mr Basil Agboarumi, Mr Stanley Ogadigo, Mr Foga Amos, Ms Mary Ichoku and Mr Emmanuel Onchono.
During the inauguration in Abuja, the President of NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the NPC was saddled with the responsibility of organising the 2026 WPRF tagged ”Abuja 2026”.
Neliaku tasked the committee to deliver on the mandate given to them, stressing that the international event had given Nigeria the opportunity to shape its narrative and boost its image and reputation.
Delivering his keynote address, Alhaji Idris, described Nigeria’s hosting of the WPRF 2026 as both a national honour and a call to excellence.
He said the event offers Nigeria a global stage to showcase its diversity, creativity, and communicative strength, reaffirming the government’s commitment to repositioning the country’s image through truth, professionalism, and responsible storytelling.
The Minister noted that the forum aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of restoring trust between government and citizens while promoting Nigeria’s positive identity before the world. Alhaji Idris emphasized that in an era of disinformation and global polarization, communication professionals must rise as custodians of truth and builders of social cohesion.
He called on Nigerian public relations practitioners to use the forum as a platform to lead the global conversation on ethical communication, truth-driven advocacy, and public accountability.
In addition, the Chairman of the committee, Haruna, said that the inauguration of registration and unveiling marked the formal beginning of preparations of what promises to be one of the most significant gathering of communication professionals ever held on the African soil.
”On behalf of the members of the committee, I want to sincerely thank the leadership of NIPR for the confidence reposed in us. We accept the responsibility with humility and affirmed commitment to justify the trust place in us through hard work, professionalism and excellence.
”When the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management granted Nigeria the hosting right to host the WPRF 2026, it was both an honour and a challenge. An honour because, Nigeria will for the first time host world foremost communication experts, and challenge because we must showcase the very best of our nation’s capacity,” Haruna said.
He noted that as WPRF 2026 was unveiled, a vision, spirit of collaboration and pride was presented, adding that it called for telling the African stories authentically and connecting to the world through communication.
Similarly, the co-chairman, Lamai explained that the committee was planning to ensure effective delivery on its mandate.
”The WRPF Abuja 2026 will take place in November 2026, and will span six days. Aside the usual morning sessions where you have the workshops and the trainings, we are putting a structured mechanism of entertainment; something like FESTAC 1977.
”We are working on a lot of things, like horse riding, spoken words and other forms of entertainment that will make participants love Nigeria and always want to come back,” Lamai said.