Nigeria is set to take centre stage in the global public relations and strategic communication industry as Abuja prepares to host about 3,000 delegates from 126 countries at the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF).
President Bola Tinubu will serve as Chief Host of the week-long international forum, while Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is expected to deliver the keynote address.
The gathering is expected to attract public relations practitioners, communication experts, policymakers, government officials and thought leaders from across the world to deliberate on emerging challenges confronting the industry and the evolving role of communication in governance and society.
The forum, themed “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” will focus on growing concerns around misinformation, declining public trust, rapid technological advancement and the need to strengthen ethical standards in public communication.
Discussions are expected to explore how responsible communication can improve governance, promote sustainable development and rebuild trust between citizens and institutions.
The participation of Presidents Tinubu and Hichilema is also expected to give the forum a strong African leadership dimension while further projecting Nigeria as a destination for major international conferences and high-level policy engagements.
Speaking on the event, the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the diplomatic community had an important role to play in ensuring the success of the forum, given the central role of communication and relationship-building in international diplomacy.
Ebienfa said the Ministry attached great importance to platforms that promote mutual understanding, strengthen international collaboration and showcase Nigeria’s capacity to host major global gatherings.
President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, described the WPRF as a national project, stressing that Nigeria’s successful bid to host the forum had elevated it beyond the professional body.
“This is a Nigerian project. It is far beyond the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations,” Neliaku said.
He noted that the diplomatic community remained a key stakeholder because diplomats were directly involved in building, managing and sustaining relationships between nations.
According to him, the forum will bring together global thought leaders, policymakers and professionals from business, governance, politics, academia, technology, military and security, faith, culture and civil society, among other sectors.
Neliaku said the expected participation of 3,000 delegates from 126 countries would make the event one of the largest global gatherings of public relations and strategic communication professionals.
Beyond professional engagements, the forum is expected to provide Nigerian communication practitioners with opportunities to exchange knowledge, establish international partnerships and explore emerging opportunities in the global communication industry.
The event will also offer Nigeria an opportunity to showcase its organisational capacity and strengthen Abuja’s position as a hub for international dialogue on strategic communication, responsible leadership and global cooperation.
With delegates drawn from 126 countries, WPRF 2026 is poised to become a major global convergence for communication professionals while reinforcing Nigeria’s growing profile as a destination for international dialogue and professional exchange.
