Gov Uba Sani Bags Triple NIPR Honours, Named WPRF Ambassador at NPRW 2026
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, on Monday received three major honours from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) during an investiture ceremony held at the Government House, Kaduna, on the sidelines of the third Nigerian Public Relations Week (NPRW 2026).
In a rare triple conferment, the NIPR Council unanimously awarded the governor an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute, designated him Grand Patron of NIPR, and appointed him Ambassador of the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), a role spanning the 126 countries affiliated with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.
The investiture was conducted by the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, in the presence of members of the Institute’s Governing Council drawn from across Nigeria, alongside top media executives, government officials, and international public relations practitioners.
Describing the honours as a product of merit, Dr. Neliaku said the decision was based on demonstrated leadership and impact, rather than ceremonial convention.
“We are very careful of those that wear the brand of NIPR. You must demonstrate that you have something to offer the citizens, the nation, and your people. Your Excellency, you have met those requirements,” he said.
He noted that while the NIPR Act designates all state governors as patrons of the Institute, the conferment of the Honorary Fellowship goes beyond protocol and is reserved for individuals with proven contributions to governance and public communication.
Dr. Neliaku also disclosed that the WPRF ambassadorial role was conferred with the backing of the President of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, granting the governor recognition across its 126 member countries.
He further announced that Nigeria will host the 2026 World Public Relations Forum from November 15 to 21 in Abuja, alongside the 37th Conference of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as chief host.
According to him, Zambia’s President is expected to deliver the keynote address, while the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, will also participate.
The NIPR President credited Governor Uba Sani for supporting Nigeria’s successful bid to host the global event when it faced challenges in 2024.
In his acceptance speech, Governor Uba Sani expressed appreciation to the NIPR Council and described the honours as a call to greater responsibility.
“Communication is not peripheral to governance; it is fundamental to it,” he said, stressing that many governance failures stem from poor communication and implementation gaps.
He pledged continued collaboration with the NIPR in promoting transparency, accountability, and effective public engagement.
The ceremony attracted a wide array of dignitaries, including Chief Raymond Dokpesi Jr., Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DAAR Communications PLC; Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); and Senior High Chief Tony Akiotu, President of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON).
Also present were the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, and NIPR Vice President, Prof Emmanuel Dandaura, Council members such as Dr. Ahmad Surajo, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi and Brig Gen Sani Usman Kukasheka (Rtd).
International participants included President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), Arik Karani from Kenya and Ambassador Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge, a Pan-African food security expert and CEO of Elpasso Farms.
Members of the Kaduna State Executive Council including Commissioner of Information Ahmed Maiyaki and others overseeing Education, Environment, Business Innovation and Technology, Women Affairs, as well as representatives from the Office of the Deputy Governor were in attendance.
The Nigerian Public Relations Week, rebranded in 2024 from the Institute’s Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting, remains NIPR’s flagship national event, bringing together stakeholders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
The 2026 edition, themed “Nigeria’s Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plates – The Imperatives of Public Relations,” has attracted about 2,000 delegates to Kaduna and also serves as the Institute’s Annual General Meeting.
By TimesNG