By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Presidency has affirmed its readiness to support the forthcoming Global Alliance World Public Relations Forum, scheduled to hold in Abuja from Sunday, 15 November, to Saturday, 21 November, 2026, with about 3,000 delegates from 126 member countries of the alliance expected to attend the event.
The State House Director of Information and Public Relations, Abiodun Oladunjoye, disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday, 20 August, 2026, and titled, “Presidency Pledges Support as Nigeria Hosts World Public Relations Conference in Abuja,” noting that the forum, themed “Deepening Responsible Communications,” is being organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
According to the statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, received members of the forum’s planning committee at the State House, where he expressed delight that Nigeria would host the global event and stressed that it was incumbent on Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the country.
Onanuga lamented the negative portrayal of Nigeria in certain quarters, which he said misinformed foreigners about the country’s real narratives, and described the forum as a great opportunity for the country to correct such misconceptions, adding that the conference deserved the support of all Nigerians.
Earlier, the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr Ike Neliaku, informed Onanuga that the committee had come to seek his support for the forum, adding that the conference would showcase Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage. Neliaku disclosed that Nigeria was the first country in Africa to be granted hosting rights for the event, noting that Mexico, India and Berlin, Germany, had hosted the forum at different times in the past.
Neliaku further revealed that a unique feature of the conference would be a signing ceremony during which delegates would commit to an accord known as the “Abuja Declaration.” He also disclosed that Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema would deliver the keynote address at the event, and that President Bola Tinubu would be decorated with a lifetime Award of Excellence in Reforms during the forum.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee for the event, Dr Suleiman Haruna, informed Onanuga that preparations for the forum were in top gear, adding that the committee was partnering with media organisations and security agencies to ensure the successful hosting of the event.
Also speaking, a member of the planning committee and Director-General of Strategic Communications to the Nasarawa State Government, Yakubu Lamai, disclosed that as part of efforts to gain the confidence of foreign counterparts, the Nasarawa State Government was building a world-class Public Relations University.
Renowned broadcaster and member of the delegation, Mrs Moji Makanjuola, said the conference would be gender-inclusive, with women and persons with disabilities carried along in its planning and execution.
She solicited the support of the Presidency, stressing that Nigerians must be ready to receive the world, noting that the responsibility rested on the country as a whole and not solely on the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
