Nigeria is strengthening preparations to leverage the forthcoming World Public Relations Forum to boost its global image, showcase its development story and promote youth leadership.
President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, disclosed this in an interview with Voice of Nigeria, on the sidelines of the third Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi Annual Diamond Lecture in Abuja describing the forthcoming Global gathering as a significant opportunity to project the authentic Nigerian narrative and deepen the country’s global engagement.
“As you can see, we are partnering with a lot of organisations including the Voice of Nigeria to make sure that we give them the opportunity to tell the authentic Nigerian story,” he said.
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Neliaku cautioned that the value of the forum would ultimately depend on how effectively Nigeria uses the platform to communicate its identity, achievements and aspirations.
“It’s not a mean opportunity. And I want to reiterate that how we use it is up to us. What we do with it is up to us. If we don’t use it well, it will backfire,” he warned.
On preparations, the NIPR president said the organising team was making progress towards its targets.
“We are on top gear. We are now on the 7th floor. Our target is the 10th floor. So we are now on the 7th floor. We will go to 8th, go to 9th and then by the last week we are on the 10th floor,” he said, using the analogy to describe the stages remaining before the event.
The planned programme includes a global youth public relations summit, a roundtable and the proposed inauguration of what Neliaku described as the world’s first University of Public Relations and Leadership.
He said a Nigeria Jollof Rice Festival to celebrate the country’s culinary heritage and extend the forum’s benefits beyond conference participants was part of activities fir the global convergence.
Nneliaku added that the festival would take place at the National Centre for Women Development, with organisers planning to serve free meals to 10,000 Nigerians as part of their corporate social responsibility commitment.
“We are feeding 10,000 Nigerians free of charge as part of the corporate social responsibility of hosting the World Public Relations Forum,” he said.
He noted that TGI, the manufacturers of Bull Rice, was supporting the initiative, which he described as an opportunity to give back to Nigerians while hosting the international community.
Beyond the forum, Neliaku highlighted the importance of preserving institutional legacies, and pacesetters like Raymond Dokpesi. He recalled the NIPR’s recent celebration in Adamawa State of Sam Pepele, its founder and first president.
“We refused to let his legacy die,” he said, explaining that recognising the institute’s pioneers was essential to preserving its history and strengthening its professional identity.
He also identified performance, communication and perception management as critical to public relations, stressing that practitioners must demonstrate results and use their expertise to promote what is right.
“You can claim to be anything, but what you leave behind will speak for you,” Neliaku said.
He said the forum offered Nigeria an opportunity to turn international visibility into lasting value through credible communication, cultural diplomacy, youth engagement and initiatives with tangible benefits for citizens.
