President Bola Tinubu and the presidents of Zambia and Kenya are expected to feature at the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) scheduled for Abuja, later this month.
The President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, will deliver the keynote address, while Kenyan President William Ruto is expected to attend as special guest of honour. Tinubu will serve as the chief host of the event.
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Professor Justin Green, disclosed this during a digital campaign programme organised in Abuja to promote the forum.
According to him, representatives of major international institutions, including the United Nations, African Union, World Bank, INTERPOL, World Customs Organisation and European Commission, are also expected to participate.
Green said the gathering would attract public relations practitioners, academics, students and policymakers from across the world, describing it as one of the biggest international conferences dedicated to public relations and strategic communication.
He also disclosed that 28 high commissioners, alongside state governors and other dignitaries, would attend the event.
The forum, themed Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World, is expected to provide a platform for discussions on ethical communication, public trust, professional standards and the growing influence of technology and misinformation on the global information landscape.
He further announced that the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) had won the award for the world’s best public relations association for the second consecutive year, beating competing institutes from different regions, including Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America.
The recognition, he said, underscored the growing capacity and professional standing of Nigeria’s public relations industry.
NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, urged communication professionals, particularly social media influencers and young practitioners, to embrace integrity and responsible communication in promoting peaceful coexistence.
He also encouraged practitioners and students across the country to participate actively in the forum.
The 2026 WPRF is being organised by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management in partnership with NIPR. It is expected to provide an international platform for examining the role of strategic communication in building public trust, addressing misinformation and strengthening professional standards.
The forum will also bring together the 37th African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference in Abuja.
