The Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), mostly known as Radio Nigeria, has been named the official host radio broadcaster for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
The landmark partnership is expected to strengthen publicity and public engagement around the global public relations gathering scheduled to take place in Abuja from November 15 to 21, 2026. Blueprint reports
The forum is expected to attract delegates and participants from 126 countries, making it one of the major international gatherings to be hosted by Nigeria this year.
The agreement was signed on Friday at Radio House in Abuja, with the management of FRCN assuring the organisers that the Corporation would deploy its extensive broadcasting network and resources towards ensuring the success of the event.
FRCN pledges full support
Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Director-General of FRCN, Dr Mohammed Bulama, said the Corporation was committed to building on its existing partnership with NIPR to support the successful hosting of the global forum.
Bulama said FRCN recognised the strategic importance of WPRF to Nigeria, particularly because of the opportunity it would provide for the country to present its identity, values and potential to an international audience.
According to him, the presence of delegates from more than 120 countries would place Abuja and Nigeria at the centre of global attention during the week-long event.
He said FRCN, as the country’s foremost public broadcaster, had a responsibility to contribute to efforts aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s reputation and projecting the country positively to the international community.
The FRCN director-general assured the NIPR that the Corporation would put necessary measures in place to ensure that the impact of the forum was felt before, during and after the event.
“We want to assure you that we will deploy all the resources available to us to make sure that the event is a resounding success. Hosting over 120 countries is not a small feat. Abuja will become the centre of global attention. We are ready to contribute our own quota to ensure that Nigeria leaves a lasting footprint in the minds of our guests,” Bulama stated.
His assurance underscores the expected role of FRCN in providing extensive radio coverage and public enlightenment as preparations for the international gathering intensify.
Partnership to boost national awareness
The partnership between FRCN and NIPR is also expected to provide a wider platform for Nigerians to understand the significance of the WPRF and the opportunities it presents to the country.
With its network of radio stations and extensive reach across different parts of Nigeria, FRCN is expected to play a major role in taking information about the event to audiences beyond Abuja.
The collaboration will also enable the organisers to communicate the objectives and activities of the forum to Nigerians in different regions and demographic groups.
For NIPR, the partnership represents an important component of its communication strategy as it seeks to ensure that the forum is not perceived as an event restricted to public relations professionals alone.
NIPR highlights FRCN’s wide reach
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the National Planning Committee (NPC) of WPRF, Dr Suleiman Haruna, who spoke on behalf of NIPR, highlighted the importance of FRCN’s extensive broadcasting network to the success of the event.
Haruna said the Corporation’s wide reach across the country would be of significant value in driving awareness about the forum and communicating its potential benefits to Nigerians.
He said the WPRF had been carefully designed to offer value to different segments of society, stressing that the event would provide an opportunity for Nigerians to engage with global experts and stakeholders on issues relating to public relations, communication, reputation management and national development.
The NPC chairman therefore called on Nigerians and prospective participants who had not registered for the event to take advantage of the available opportunity.
He disclosed that about 3,000 high-profile personalities were expected to participate in the global gathering.
Forum to place Nigeria in global spotlight
The 2026 WPRF is expected to place Nigeria in the global spotlight as public relations professionals and other stakeholders from different parts of the world converge on Abuja.
The gathering will provide a platform for participants to exchange ideas, share professional experiences and examine emerging trends shaping communication and reputation management globally.
Beyond the professional discussions, the forum is expected to provide Nigeria with an opportunity to showcase its culture, people, institutions and economic potential to an international audience.
The organisers believe that the successful hosting of the event could also contribute to efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s international reputation.
For the NIPR, this makes strategic communication and effective media coverage central to the success of the forum.
The involvement of FRCN as official host broadcaster is therefore expected to complement other communication channels being deployed by the organisers.
FRCN-NIPR partnership deepens
The MoA also further strengthens the relationship between FRCN and NIPR, two institutions with important roles in Nigeria’s communication and public information ecosystem.
While FRCN provides a broad national broadcasting platform, NIPR brings its professional expertise in public relations, strategic communication and reputation management to the partnership.
The collaboration is expected to ensure that information about the forum reaches a broad audience while also creating sustained public interest in the event.
FRCN’s role will extend beyond simply reporting activities at the forum, with the Corporation expected to contribute to the wider communication efforts surrounding the event before, during and after the gathering.
Key officials witness agreement
The signing ceremony was witnessed by senior officials and members of the WPRF planning teams.
Those present included the Registrar of NIPR, Chief Uzoma Onyegbadue; Team Lead, Communication and Media Relations Work Team of WPRF, Dr Muhammad Kudu Abubakar; Chairman, NIPR FCT Chapter and Director, Public Relations, NIPR, Mr Stanley Ogadigo.
Others were Team Lead, Creatives and Multimedia Work Team of WPRF, Dr Tope Ojeme; Assistant Secretary, National Planning Committee of WPRF, Ms Kelechi Okeagu; and Miss Alexandria Eke of the NIPR National Secretariat.
Their presence highlighted the broad institutional involvement in preparations for the forum and the importance attached to effective communication ahead of the November gathering.
Expectations ahead of November
With the signing of the agreement, attention will now turn to the implementation of the partnership and the broader preparations for the WPRF.
The organisers are expected to intensify awareness campaigns in the coming months as they work towards hosting thousands of participants in Abuja.
For FRCN, the event represents an opportunity to demonstrate the capacity of Nigeria’s public broadcasting system to support an international gathering while contributing to the projection of the country’s image.
For NIPR, the partnership provides an additional platform to ensure that the message and objectives of the WPRF reach Nigerians across the country.
As delegates from 126 countries prepare to converge on Abuja, both organisations are expected to work closely to ensure that the forum achieves its objectives and leaves a lasting impression on participants and the wider international community.