WPRF: As Another Global PR Summit Comes to Africa
By Kabir Abdulsalam
Nigeria has just stepped onto a bigger global stage. With the official unveiling of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) scheduled to hold in Abuja from November 15 to 21, 2026, under the banner of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, the country is preparing to host one of the most prestigious gatherings in the global communications community.
This is more than an event announcement; it is a statement of intent. Since its inception in 2001, the WPRF has toured the world from Rome to Trieste, Brasília, Cape Town, London, Stockholm, Melbourne, Madrid, Toronto, Oslo, Chennai, and Bali. Abuja will be the first host city in West Africa and only the second on African soil. That alone signals something profound: Africa is no longer sitting at the edge of global communication conversations—it is now part of the centre.
Barely a week before the Abuja unveiling, I attended a global PR summit in Accra, Ghana, organised by the country’s Institute of Public Relations (IPR) to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). It was far from just another conference; it felt like a continental declaration. Themed “Global Realities and Innovative Communication,” the gathering underscored Africa’s growing voice in shaping global narratives. From tightly packed plenaries to colourful gala nights, the air in Accra carried a simple, powerful message: communication is not just a tool of development; it is the soul of diplomacy.
For three days, policymakers, media leaders, and PR professionals from across continents converged on the Ghanaian capital. The event, which also marked the 50th anniversary of IPR Ghana, became both a celebration of legacy and a rehearsal for Africa’s communication leadership. Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, set the tone with a keynote that linked transparency in governance to credible storytelling, reminding everyone that nations rise or fall on the strength of the stories they tell and the sincerity behind them.
The sessions were rich and diverse, ranging from ethical leadership and reputation management to artificial intelligence and the future of strategic communication. Ghana’s Minister of Communications, Digitalisation and Innovation, Hon. Sam Nartey George, used his session to warn that “Africa must not allow technology to recolonize its voice.” The remark drew thunderous applause because it struck at a critical truth: in the digital age, communication is as much about power as it is about access. Whoever controls the narrative infrastructure—the platforms, the data, the algorithms—ultimately shapes how Africa is seen and how Africans see themselves.
The climax came at the closing gala, with the Vice President of Ghana in attendance and delegates from over 40 countries watching as Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah was inaugurated as IPRA President—the first African woman to lead the 70-year-old body. It was a symbolic victory that went beyond individual achievement; it was a recognition of Africa’s intellectual capital in the global PR space.
The accompanying Golden World Awards (GWA) further showcased this diversity and excellence. Entries poured in from 35 countries. Among the winners was Nigeria’s Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokesperson’s Digest, alongside the Nigeria Customs Service, honoured for their 162-page handbook Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management. Other winners included Pan American Energy (Argentina), Stratcomm Africa (Ghana), McDonald’s (Hungary), Indonesia’s Ministry of Finance, BPRESS (Italy), Dentsu (Japan), Kenya Breweries (KBL), Olam Agri (Singapore), Burson Africa, Warner Bros (South Africa), and Adobe (USA). It was a reminder that world-class communication work is happening everywhere—and Africa is contributing meaningfully to that pool.
That same spirit of excellence is now moving to Nigeria. Just weeks after the Accra summit, Abuja became the stage for the formal commencement of preparations for WPRF 2026, which will run back-to-back with the African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference. With that, Nigeria becomes the first African country to host both major events in the same year—a double honour and a serious responsibility.
The unveiling ceremony, organised by the NIPR National Committee for WPRF Abuja 2026, brought together communication leaders, ministers, and seasoned professionals. The committee, chaired by Dr. Suleiman Haruna, former Director of Information at the State House, and co-chaired by Malam Yakubu Lamai, signalled the beginning of Nigeria’s biggest international PR journey yet.
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In a symbolic fusion of art and advocacy, Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia—“2Baba”—was unveiled as the Music Ambassador for WPRF Abuja 2026. It was a deliberate choice: blending pop culture with public relations, and using music as a bridge between youth, creativity, and national branding. It sent a clear message that Nigeria intends not just to host a conference, but to stage an experience.
Top government officials were also in attendance, including Hon. Festus Keyamo, SAN, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation. Both emphasized the diplomatic and reputational significance of the forum. “This event is more than a celebration for PR professionals,” Idris said. “It is a national project that gives us the chance to present Nigeria in its true image before the international community.”
That framing is crucial. For years, Nigeria’s image abroad has been filtered through the lenses of conflict, corruption, and crisis. WPRF 2026 offers a rare opportunity to recalibrate that perception—through honest storytelling, not propaganda; through openness, not defensive rhetoric.
Reinforcing this optimism, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of NIPR Council, described WPRF as “the World Cup of Public Relations.” He announced that the Abuja edition is expected to host delegates from 126 countries under the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management. “This is our time to show the world the authentic Nigeria—creative, resilient, and responsible,” he declared.
He went further to reveal that global unveiling events will hold in Dubai and London to build international momentum ahead of 2026. “Everyone wants to come to Nigeria,” he said confidently. “We are set to host the biggest, brightest, and boldest World Public Relations Forum ever held.”
For his part, Dr. Haruna stressed that hosting WPRF goes beyond logistics or hospitality. “We are not only hosting the world; we are preparing to redefine global understanding of African communication excellence,” he noted. In other words, Abuja 2026 is not just about what the world brings to Nigeria, but what Nigeria and Africa offer to the world—perspectives on crisis communication, nation branding, peacebuilding, digital innovation, and community resilience.
From Accra’s lessons to Abuja’s aspirations, a new pattern is emerging: Africa is no longer satisfied with being a passive subject of global narratives; it is becoming an active producer and curator of those narratives. Ghana showed that unity, political will, and cultural confidence can transform a professional event into a national showcase. Nigeria, with its scale, diversity, and media power, now holds the baton and the burden of elevating that legacy.
As Dr. Neliaku hinted, the Abuja 2026 Forum may echo the spirit of FESTAC ’77—not as a nostalgic replica, but as a modern renaissance of confidence and communication. It will be a platform to tell the Nigerian story on Nigerian soil, through Nigerian voices, in the universal language of credibility, creativity, and connection.
Institutions like IMPR, through PRNigeria and Spokesperson’s Digest, have already laid foundations for this global image, consistently projecting Nigeria at IPRA gatherings from Barcelona to Belgrade. With WPRF 2026 approaching, that reputation faces its biggest test yet: can Nigeria deliver an event that is both globally admired and authentically African?
This is also a cue for Nigeria’s political leadership—particularly the Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)—to ensure that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu personally attends WPRF 2026. His presence, alongside key members of the Federal Executive Council and state governors, would send a strong signal that Nigeria values communication as a central instrument of governance, diplomacy, and development.
But beyond attendance, Nigeria must match symbolism with substance. Security, infrastructure, hospitality, and intellectual content must all meet global standards. Young professionals and students of communication should be deliberately integrated through side events, workshops, and mentorship sessions. Local agencies and practitioners must see WPRF not just as a spectacle to watch, but as a platform to participate, network, and learn.
As another global PR summit comes to Africa, the continent stands ready to prove that its stories are not just worth telling—they are worth believing. And for Nigeria, the stage is set. Whether Abuja 2026 becomes a mere event or a defining chapter in our communication history will depend on what we do between now and then.
The world is coming. It is now up to Nigeria to ensure that when the lights dim and the delegates depart, they leave with a truer picture of who we are: a nation of storytellers, problem-solvers, and bridge-builders, determined to claim our rightful place in the global conversation.
Kabir Abdulsalam is with Spokesperson’s Digest and can be reached via [email protected]
