By Ndudirim Sylvia Iloka

Nigeria has opened registration for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), with about 3,000 delegates from more than 126 countries expected to converge on Abuja for what organisers describe as a landmark global gathering of public relations and strategic communication professionals.

The forum is scheduled to hold in Abuja from November 15 to 21, 2026, with the main conference taking place from November 16 to 21 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel.

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), host of the forum in partnership with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, made the announcement on Monday during a briefing with members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja.

The organisers called on foreign missions to encourage participation by government officials, communication professionals, academics, students, young professionals and business leaders from their respective countries.

They also assured prospective international delegates that Nigeria was making arrangements to provide a smooth experience from arrival to departure, adopting the distinctly Nigerian expression, “No Wahala,” as part of the hospitality message being projected to the international community.

The forum will be held under the theme, “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” and is expected to examine the changing role of public relations at a time of rapid technological development, misinformation, declining public trust, global conflicts and growing demand for ethical and transparent communication.

The organisers said the theme speaks directly to the need for communication professionals, governments, businesses and institutions to rebuild trust and promote responsible communication as a tool for social cohesion, good governance and sustainable development.

NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, said the forum was designed to create meaningful engagement between communication professionals and the institutions, policymakers and organisations that depend on strategic communication.

According to him, the gathering would provide an opportunity for practitioners and other stakeholders to examine how communication can contribute more effectively to governance, diplomacy, peacebuilding, development and international cooperation.

A major outcome expected from the forum is the development of the Abuja Declaration on Responsible Communication, which organisers envisage as a framework capable of guiding the global public relations profession over the next decade.

The declaration is expected to provide a stronger professional response to challenges associated with misinformation, fragmentation, declining institutional trust and the growing influence of digital communication platforms.

The forum is also expected to give Nigeria an opportunity to strengthen its position in global public relations and communication management, following the country’s successful bid to host the event.

The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management has described the Abuja gathering as a significant event for the profession, particularly as the organisation celebrates its 25th anniversary.

The programme will feature keynote addresses, high level plenary sessions, academic discussions, workshops, masterclasses, networking sessions and other professional engagements involving participants from different regions of the world.

The 37th African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference will be held concurrently with the WPRF, while other major activities include the African Ministers of Information Roundtable and the Global Youth Public Relations Summit.

The organisers said the youth component was designed to bring younger communication professionals and students into the global conversation on the future of the profession, while the ministerial roundtable will provide a platform for discussions around information management, public communication and governance.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to serve as Chief Host of the forum, while Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is slated to deliver the keynote address.

Representatives and participants are also expected from major international organisations, including the United Nations, UNESCO, the World Bank and INTERPOL, alongside government officials, business leaders, academics and communication experts from around the world.

The event will also feature a strong cultural and tourism component as Nigeria seeks to use the international gathering to showcase the country’s hospitality, cuisine, fashion, tourism and creative industries.

Among the planned attractions is the inaugural Nigeria Jollof Rice Festival, alongside cultural showcases, exhibitions and other activities designed to expose international visitors to Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.

The official WPRF 2026 programme also lists a World Cultural Parade, African Culture Splash, a Public Relations Book Fair, youth engagement activities, networking events and other cultural and professional programmes.

A Presidential Banquet at the State House is also listed among the planned activities, further underscoring the importance attached to the international gathering.

Speaking on behalf of the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador Mersole J. Mellejor of the Philippines, described the theme of the forum as timely, particularly in an era in which misinformation and the rapid spread of unverified information have created serious challenges for governments, institutions and the public.

The ambassador’s position reflects one of the central concerns of the forum: how communication professionals can help rebuild confidence in institutions and create more credible channels of communication in an increasingly fragmented information environment.

To facilitate international participation, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, is coordinating visa facilitation and other consular arrangements for foreign delegates.

The organisers said attention was also being given to accommodation, security and medical support to ensure that participants can move around Abuja and attend the different activities with minimal difficulty.

Nineteen accredited hotels have been selected to cater for delegates across different budget categories, while the Transcorp Hilton Abuja will serve as the main conference venue.

The official WPRF portal indicates that the programme will begin with a Golf and Polo Tournament on Sunday, November 15, while the main conference activities will run from Monday, November 16 to Saturday, November 21.

The organisers said the event is expected to generate significant professional, diplomatic, tourism and economic opportunities for Nigeria, particularly through the arrival of thousands of international visitors and the exposure of Nigerian businesses and creative enterprises to a global audience.

Beyond the conference itself, the gathering is expected to create opportunities for Nigerian communication professionals to engage directly with international counterparts, policymakers, academics and corporate leaders while strengthening networks that could continue beyond the event.

For the NIPR, the forum also represents an opportunity to demonstrate Nigeria’s growing role in shaping the public relations profession in Africa and the wider international community.

The Global Alliance has previously commended Nigeria’s preparations for the event, while NIPR has expressed its determination to make the Abuja edition the “best, biggest and brightest” World Public Relations Forum.

Registration is now open for delegates, sponsors, exhibitors, partners and other participants through the official WPRF 2026 portal.

WPRF 2026 Registration Portal: www.wprf2026.niprng.org.ng

The registration portal also provides options for participants to generate invitation letters and access information on participation and event tickets.

With thousands of delegates expected from more than 126 countries, the 2026 World Public Relations Forum is set to bring an unprecedented concentration of global communication professionals to Nigeria, placing Abuja at the centre of conversations on responsible communication, trust, ethical leadership and the future of public relations.

For the organisers, the message to the international community is straightforward: “No Wahala” – Nigeria is ready to welcome the world.