President, chairman of the Nigerian Institute of public relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku fnipr, has announced that Nigeria will host the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), a prestigious event that will bring together professionals from over 126 countries. This marks a significant milestone for the country, as it will be the first time the forum will be held in Nigeria and West Africa.

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The NIPR President, disclosed this during the ongoing Nigeria Public Relations Week (NPRW) in Uyo, with the theme: “Solid Minerals: A Solid Path to Nigeria’s Sustainable Economic Recovery – The Challenge for Public Relations.” Which has attracted over 1,000 delegates from across the country and beyond.

According to Dr. Neliaku, Nigeria’s bid to host the forum was fiercely competitive, with South Africa being a strong contender. However, after several reviews, Nigeria emerged victorious, with the perception of the country by outsiders playing a significant role in the decision-making process.

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Dr. Neliaku emphasized that the country’s image needs significant improvement, adding that effective leadership and communication are crucial in addressing this challenge.

He noted, “Part of the challenge of leadership in Nigeria is partly due to lack of effective communication because leaders don’t take responsibility in sharing their views and their visions with those they are meeting. They assume that they know what the people want and in some cases, they fail.”

The NIPR President expressed concern about how Nigeria is perceived both locally and internationally, stating,

“We are a nation in transition. But what bothers me as a public relations practitioner is how we are perceived by the international community. And more importantly, how we are perceived locally by our own people.”

Dr. Neliaku credited the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, for his support in securing the bid.

“I went to Venice to defend Nigeria’s hosting of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, which has been given to Nigeria.

The first time we came to Africa was in 2007 and it went to South Africa. We fought in Bali, serious fighting led by the Minister of Information to ensure that the next one in 2026 should be to Africa.

We made a pitch with the support of the President of African Public Relations Association for Nigeria, We won the battle.”

The voting process was a nail-biter, with Nigeria securing 17 votes against South Africa’s one vote.

Dr. Neliaku humorously recounted the questions he faced during the presentation, including one about his favorite fruit in Nigeria, to which he replied “Agbalumo” He also shared his favorite food in Nigeria, which left the audience amused.

When asked about mosquitoes in Nigeria, Dr. Neliaku quipped, “The mosquitoes that we have are very friendly mosquitoes. I

f they bite you, then you are a bad person. If they are a good person, then they will not bite you. Because we have practiced public relations with them.”

Dr. Neliaku’s presentation, which included a 57-slide deck, convinced the international community that Nigeria is the destination for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum.

With over 126 countries expected to attend, this event is set to be a landmark occasion for Nigeria and West Africa.

This achievement is a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in the global public relations landscape and its potential to host major international events.

As the country prepares to host the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, it is expected to showcase its capabilities and strengths to a global audience.

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