By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief)
In a major step toward delivering a globally resonant World Public Relations Forum, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), appointing the national wire service as the Official Digital and Wire Services Partner for WPRF Abuja 2026.
The agreement, formalised at NAN headquarters in Abuja, signals a powerful alliance between Nigeria’s foremost professional communication body and the country’s flagship news agency as preparations intensify for what is set to be one of the most consequential global communication gatherings ever hosted on African soil.
WPRF Abuja 2026 promises to bring together delegates from over 126 countries across six continents. The Forum will hold alongside the African Public Relations Association 2026 Annual Conference and coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management. It marks only the second time in history that the prestigious global forum is coming to Africa.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Acting President of NIPR, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, described the partnership as strategic and inevitable.
According to him, NAN remains an indispensable pillar in Nigeria’s quest to host a World Public Relations Forum that will set new global standards.
“News Agency of Nigeria has no rival as our Digital and Wire Services partner. This is a moment for national alignment. Through NAN’s vast syndication network, the story of WPRF Abuja 2026 and APRA Conference/AGM 2026 will travel beyond our borders and resonate across the world,” he stated.
Professor Dandaura emphasised that the Forum is not merely an industry event but a national positioning platform with direct economic and reputational value. He noted that effective global media dissemination will strengthen Nigeria’s capital assets, enhance investor perception, and elevate the country’s communication profile internationally.
He assured stakeholders that NIPR remains fully committed to delivering a World Public Relations Forum whose impact will be enduring and whose benchmark will be difficult to surpass.
Responding, the Managing Director of NAN, Mallam Ali M. Ali, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership and reaffirmed the Agency’s readiness to deploy its extensive editorial infrastructure in support of the Forum.
He highlighted NAN’s established partnerships with global news organisations, its network of professional editorial personnel, and its long standing credibility locally and internationally as core strengths it brings to the collaboration.
Mallam Ali commended NIPR for its vision and for positioning Nigeria as a leading voice in responsible and strategic communication. He expressed confidence that WPRF Abuja 2026 and the associated events will deliver significant global visibility and national pride.
With this MoU, the road to WPRF Abuja 2026 takes on renewed momentum. As Africa prepares to welcome the global communication community once again, NIPR and NAN have signalled clearly that Nigeria’s story will not only be told, it will be amplified with authority, reach and impact. NNL.
