The Chairman of World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has pledged the willingness of the body towards ensuring the success of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria this November under the theme, “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World”.
Dr. Adeniyi, also the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday when he received in audience the President and CEO of Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Prof. Justin Green who is in Nigeria to ascertain the level of preparedness for the global event to be hosted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) from 15th — 21st November, 2026.
Expressing delight with Nigeria’s successful bid to host the one week Forum, the NCS boss stressed that the gathering will avail Africa opportunity to tell its narrative, noting that strategic communication is at the heart of effective customs administration. He described public relations as a bridge between enforcement and trade facilitation, as well as between government policies and the people they affect.
While underlining that responsible communication must be supported by responsible action that responds to the needs of communities, Dr. Adeniyi emphasised that the Service has introduced reforms through which it supports communities with interventions in education, healthcare, access to clean water and livelihood opportunities, particularly in border communities.
"We pledge our full support towards the successful hosting and the WPRF in 2026, and of course the concurrent celebration of the 37th conference of the African Public Relations Association. Our doors, platforms, and professional expertise will remain open to ensure that we make the Forum a truly experiential one to deliver a truly world-class event that will make Africa and the global communication community very proud", he stated.
Dr. Adeniyi, who will serve as one of the Guest Speakers said he finds it a privilege to participate in the Forum that would bring together leading communication experts from over 126 countries and representatives of major international institutions.
Earlier, Prof. Green said his preference for Africa to host the Forum did not compromise the bidding process, highlighting that Nigeria's emergence as the host country came on merit after coming top among other nations of the world who joined in the bid.
He therefore urged NIPR, APRA and the entire Africa's communication community to use the Forum as an opportunity to demonstrate the continent's professional capacity to a global audience and people he described as "doubters".
The NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku commended Dr. Adeniyi, a Fellow and the immediate past Vice President of the Institute for doing the country proud by becoming the first Nigerian to hold the position of WCO Chair in over 70 years of its establishment.