APRA 2021: PR Conference, SABRE Africa Award Go Virtual May 25-27

APRA 2021: PR Conference, SABRE Africa Award Go Virtual May 25-27

The African Public Relations Association (APRA) and the Organisers of SABRE African PR Awards have announced dates for the virtual annual conference and awards which will take place between 25th and 27th May 2021.

The two events could not be held physically in Tanzania due to the continuous rise in Covid-19 cases and the ban on travel for some organisations.

While the annual PR Conference will hold between May 25-27, the Africa SABRE Award ceremony will hold on May 27th.

The PRNigeria gathered the organisers were concerned about the safety of everyone and the continent as a whole which was why both events go virtual rather than postponing them.

The APRA Coordinator, Taiye Tunkarimu said that the theme of the Conference is “One Africa! March to the Economic Integration and the Role of Public Relations”

While the Keynote Speaker of the APRA 2021 Conference Virtual Edition is President Africa Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; the Guest Speaker is H. E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General, Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA)

Other speakers for the Conference include Kerry Sheehan, Senior Communication Advisor, United Kingdom Government Communication Service; Philippe Borremans, President International Public Relations Association (IPRA); Paul Holmes, Founder PRovoke Media; Wynne Musabayana, Head of Communication African Union Commission (AUC); Carol Watson, Chief Inclusion Officer, BCW; Kamal Taibi, Founder Strateus Group and Jordan Rittenberry, Chairman Middle East and Africa Edelman.

The Executive Head of Marketing and Communication Africa Region (PBB, Standard Bank, Nkiru Olumide-Ojo will be the moderator.

The President of APRA, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya will be the Chief Host to be supported by Vice President Robyn de Villiers and Secretary-General Jane Gitau.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Africa SABRE Awards, which recognizes Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation, and Engagement, will be announced at the virtual award ceremony on May 27th. The campaigns were evaluated by a jury of industry leaders.

Speaking on the awards, Paul Holmes, who chaired the SABRE jury said: “We saw tremendous work from across the African continent in 2020, despite difficult conditions in a year when public relations professionals—and the businesses it serves—were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was particularly exciting to see the work from across the continent, and from Eastern and Western African nations in particular.”

The event, which had been scheduled for Dar es Salaam, the Tanzanian capital, will be the second virtual African SABRE ceremony and will take place on May 27—the third day of the African Public Relations Association’s annual conference.

The SABRE award event is organised and hosted by Provoke, the PR industry’s leading source of news, trends, events, career information and intelligence.

The Awards which cover the entire global public relations business through six regional competitions recognize campaigns that demonstrate the highest levels of strategic planning, creativity and business results.

The APRA is the successor organisation to the Federation of African Public Relations Associations (FAPRA) that was inaugurated in 1975 in Nairobi Kenya to foster unity via interaction and exchange of ideas amongst public relations practitioners in Africa as a whole.

It was later registered in Nigeria in 2008 to be the clearinghouse for public relations information in Africa, set standards for public relations practicee through its code of ethics and foster the establishment of national and sub-regional public relations associations so that the profession can flourish in the continent.

Through communication, it promotes social, political and economic integration on the continent. It is a non-governmental, non-political and non-profit making professional association.

Over the years, APRA has held its flagship event, the annual conference as central amongst activities used to promote the profession.

Registration for APRA Conference: http://bit.ly/APRA2021Conference

By PRNigeria