APRA Re-elects Karani, Mekeme, Ibietan to Lead Continental PR Body, Expands Executive Council
The African Public Relations Association (APRA) has re-elected Mr. Arik Karani (Kenya) as President, Professor Michele Mekeme (Cameroon) as Vice President, and Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan (Nigeria) as Secretary General to steer the affairs of the continental body for another term.
The trio’s re-election was unanimously approved by the APRA General Assembly during its Annual General Meeting, which concluded in Swakopmund, Namibia, on the sidelines of the Effective Communicators Conference.
The conference attracted high-profile dignitaries, including Namibia’s Vice President, Her Excellency Lucia Witbooi; Botswana’s Vice President, His Honour Ndaba Gaolathe; Governor of Namibia’s Erongo Region, Hon. Natalia Goagoses; and Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Hon. Emma Theofelus.
Delegates Endorse Executive Council’s Performance
The General Assembly commended the Executive Council for what it described as an impressive performance over the past two years, citing significant achievements in strengthening national and regional public relations associations across Africa.
Delegates also applauded the Council for deepening strategic collaboration with Ministers responsible for Information and Communication Technology, government institutions and other key stakeholders, while establishing stronger governance and operational frameworks to enhance the Association’s effectiveness and sustainability.
In recognition of the progress recorded under the outgoing leadership, delegates unanimously endorsed the re-election of the Association’s three elected Executive Council members.
They will continue to serve alongside Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the Association’s Immediate Past President, who remains a non-elective member of the Executive Council.
APRA Adopts New Constitution
A major highlight of the General Assembly was the ratification of APRA’s new Constitution, which significantly expands the Association’s leadership structure.
Under the new framework, the Executive Council will now include the offices of Treasurer, Assistant Secretary General, and six Regional Coordinators representing APRA’s newly created regions—East Africa, Francophone Africa, Indian Ocean Islands and Other African-Associated Islands, North Africa, Southern Africa, and West Africa.
Read Also:
The Assembly mandated the re-elected Executive Council to commence the process of filling the new positions before APRA’s 37th Annual Conference, which will hold alongside the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja, Nigeria, from November 15 to 21, 2026.
Focus on Africa’s Digital Transformation
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Council, APRA President Arik Karani expressed appreciation to delegates for renewing their confidence in the leadership team.
He pledged to lead the Association into the next phase of its strategic plan through closer collaboration with the African Union (AU) in supporting the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa.
Karani said effective communication would be central to the continent’s digital future, noting that APRA would leverage its network of communication professionals to promote public awareness, build trust and strengthen stakeholder engagement around Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
According to him, the Association will work with the African Union, governments, development partners, the private sector, academia and civil society to promote digital literacy, encourage ethical digital communication practices, strengthen public engagement, build the capacity of communication professionals in emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence and cybersecurity—and foster collaboration among policymakers, innovators, media organisations and citizens.
He added that APRA also aims to position public relations as a strategic driver of Africa’s digital economy and the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Profiles of the Re-elected Leaders
Karani is a renowned communications strategist who advises governments, development organisations, civil society groups and private corporations on digital strategy, stakeholder engagement, crisis communication and artificial intelligence integration. He previously worked with the World Bank Group, ChildFund, and the Government of Kenya.
Vice President Professor Michele Mekeme is a distinguished public relations and communication scholar who has taught in state universities in Cameroon and across the Central African sub-region.
Secretary General Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, a faculty member of the Rome Business School’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Programme, has consulted for the MacArthur Foundation, Mastercard Foundation, and Heinrich Böll Foundation. He also served as Regional Media Researcher for Freedom House and was Special Media Adviser to a former Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation.
The decisions reached at the Swakopmund General Assembly are expected to shape APRA’s strategic direction as the Association intensifies efforts to position public relations and strategic communication at the heart of Africa’s governance, development and digital transformation agenda.
By PRNigeria
