APRA, NAMPA Partner to Host 2026 Effective Communicators Conference in Namibia
The African Public Relations Association (APRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA) to co-host the 2026 Effective Communicators Conferences
(ECC), a continental gathering aimed at advancing strategic communication, public relations, journalism and digital media across Africa.
The conference is scheduled to hold from July 14 to 17, 2026, at The Dome in Swakopmund, Namibia’s coastal resort city and tourism hub.
The partnership followed an earlier invitation by NAMPA for APRA to collaborate in hosting the event, which is being organised in conjunction with Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), led by the Minister, Hon. Emma Theofelus.
The minister had earlier unveiled activities leading to the conference in Windhoek following the signing of the MoU between APRA and NAMPA.
With the theme, “Communication Reconsidered: A Driving Force for Constant Progress,” the conference is expected to bring together communication professionals, policymakers, government officials, journalists, marketers, scholars, diplomats and digital media experts from across Africa and beyond.
According to the organisers, the conference will provide a platform to rethink how Africa tells its stories, strengthens its narratives and leverages communication as a catalyst for development, governance, trust-building and economic growth.
Speaking on the partnership, APRA President, Mr. Arik Karani, represented by the association’s Secretary-General, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, commended African governments and institutions for increasingly recognising communication as a critical pillar of governance and development.
Karani described the collaboration between APRA, NAMPA and the Namibian government as a significant milestone in efforts to reposition communication as a strategic driver of progress across the continent.
“We are committed to telling the African story with shared intentions through cooperative, evidence-based, safe, ethical and responsible communication to enhance understanding, trust, stability and prosperity across the continent,” he said.
He noted that the conference aligns with APRA’s vision of promoting communication as a premium instrument for sustainable development while creating opportunities for scholars, professionals and policymakers to exchange ideas, share experiences and acquire relevant skills for addressing contemporary communication challenges.
Organisers disclosed that ECC 2026 would be structured around six strategic forums designed to facilitate high-level discussions among key stakeholders.
Among the highlights is the Heads of States and Diplomatic Forum, which will bring together presidents, vice presidents, ministers and diplomatic representatives to discuss Africa’s communication priorities and global narrative positioning.
Other sessions include the Captains of Industry Forum, focusing on the role of businesses in regional development; the Editors and Journalists Forum, dedicated to discussions on press freedom, information integrity and the future of African journalism; and the Government Communicators Forum, where public sector communication professionals will share experiences and best practices in strategic messaging.
The conference will also feature a Strategic Communications and Public Relations Forum, expected to address crisis communication, reputation management and integrated communication campaigns, as well as a Digital Storytelling Forum, which will explore emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, social media platforms and creator-led content development across Africa.
Organisers said the event would serve as a rare convergence of Africa’s leading voices in communication governance and strategic communication, reinforcing the growing role of communication in shaping the continent’s development trajectory.
More than 1,000 participants are expected to attend the conference, which will also host APRA’s 2026 Annual General Meeting.
The Namibia conference is expected to set the stage for APRA’s 37th Annual Conference, scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 2026 as part of activities marking the World Public Relations Forum.Caption: APRA Secretary-General, Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, and officials of the Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA) after signing the Memorandum of Understanding for the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference in Namibia.
By TimesNG