The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris has played host to the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku and the Chairman of National Planning Committee (NPC) of the World Public Relations Forum, Dr. Suleiman Haruna in Abuja where he received update on content plans for the event coming up later in the year.
Briefing the Minister, Dr. Ike Neliaku informed him that eight regional organisations, including the European Union, African Union, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), League of Arab States, Organisation of American States, Union of South American States, Association of Caribbean States and African Development Bank (AfDB) are expected in attendance.
According to him, one of the programmes taking place at the Forum is a special session on legislature, to be coordinated by Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL).
He also informed the Minister of a proposed Conference of African Ministers of Information and Communication at the event, which will assist in cross-fertilisation of ideas among spokespersons of governments.
Dr. Neliaku further said the programme outline is proposed to contain professional presidential session, which will have Presidents of leading public relations organisations from Europe Council, Asia Pacific, UK, North and Latin America and others, a platform that will avail them opportunity to share ideas of how they have advanced responsible communication.
Additionally, the NIPR President informed the Minister of ongoing efforts to identify six governors who will speak on a session, Driving Development and Inclusion Through Responsible Communication: Case Studies of Nigerian Sub-nationals, which will help them market their achievements before a global audience.
In his remarks, Dr. Haruna said a day has been set aside to celebrate the beauty of Africa at the WPRF, to be known as Africa Day which will be coordinated by the African Public Relations Association (APRA), with lots of interesting contents.
The Minister who accepted to host the proposed Conference of African Ministers of Information and Communication expressed satisfaction with the content outline, assuring the readiness of the Federal Government of Nigeria to utilise the Forum to upscale the nation's reputational capital.