Kaduna to host 2026 Nigeria public relations week

Governor Uba Sani has confirmed that Kaduna State will host the 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week, pledging to make it one of the most memorable editions of the annual event.

The Governor made the commitment when the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, and members of his executive paid him a courtesy visit at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.

Governor Sani said the theme for next year’s event — “Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plates, The Public Relations Imperatives” — aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Kaduna Peace Model, which focuses on non-kinetic approaches to addressing insecurity.

He announced plans to nominate two state officials to serve on the National Planning Committee and three others on the Local Organising Committee to ensure the success of the event.

The Governor explained that upon assuming office, his administration identified economic hardship as one of the major drivers of insecurity in Kaduna State. He said insecurity thrived because people felt hopeless and abandoned, a situation worsened by poor investment in agriculture.

According to him, the previous administration allocated less than one percent of the state budget to agriculture. “So, we invested heavily in the sector and allocated 12 percent of our budget to agriculture, surpassing the Malabo Declaration that recommends 10 percent,” he said.

Governor Sani stressed that adequate funding for agriculture is central to the success of the Kaduna Peace Model, noting that the sector contributes 43 percent of the state’s GDP and employs about 60 percent of its population. He said over 500,000 hectares of farmland have been reclaimed, and farmers have returned to their fields due to improved security and investment.

He added that Kaduna State became the first subnational government in Nigeria to launch a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) to boost agricultural value chains and job creation. The state is also developing an Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) with support from Afrexim Bank, aimed at improving produce quality and reducing post-harvest losses.

The Governor highlighted other achievements under his administration, including the reopening of 192 primary healthcare centres and all schools previously shut down due to insecurity. He said peace has returned to Birnin Gwari and Giwa, areas once considered flashpoints of violence, with economic activities now thriving again.

He also noted that there has been no ethno-religious crisis in the state since he took office, adding that the UK Government recently lifted its travel restrictions on Kaduna State, upgrading it from “red” to “amber” status after assessing the improved security situation.

Speaking earlier, NIPR President Dr. Ike Neliaku commended Kaduna for accepting to host the 2026 edition, saying it was selected after a rigorous process, with Kano State as the backup option. He said the first and second editions of the Nigeria Public Relations Week were held in Abeokuta and Uyo, respectively.

Dr. Neliaku also announced that Nigeria will host the World Public Relations Forum in November 2026, the largest global gathering of communication professionals. This will be the first time the event is held in Nigeria and only the second time in Africa. He added that the Kaduna PR Week would serve as the “foundational programme” leading up to the global forum.

He further revealed plans to establish the world’s first University of Public Relations and Leadership in Nigeria, in partnership with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.