From: Femi Oyelola in Kaduna
Governor Uba Sani has announced that Kaduna will host the 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week, assuring that next year’s edition will be one of the best events. The governor made this commitment during a courtesy visit by the National President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, and members of his executive team at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
Governor Uba Sani also pledged to nominate two government officials to serve on the National Planning Committee and three others for the Local Organizing Committee. He emphasized that the theme of next year’s event aligns with the broad objectives of the Kaduna Peace Model, which promotes a non-kinetic approach to addressing insecurity.
The theme for the 2026 Nigerian Public Relations Week is “Food Security: From Policy Paper to Public Plates, The Public Relations Imperatives.” The Governor noted that upon taking office, he examined the causes of insecurity in Kaduna State, which has been marred by banditry, kidnapping, and ethno-religious crises. He discovered that economic despair fueled insecurity, as many people felt hopeless and abandoned.
The Governor recalled that agriculture had been underfunded, with the previous administration allocating less than 1% of the budget to the sector. In response, his administration invested heavily in agriculture, allocating 12% of the budget to the industry, which surpasses the Malabo Declaration’s recommendation for states to devote at least 10% of their budgets to agriculture.
He highlighted that adequate funding for agriculture is vital for the success of the Kaduna Peace Model since it contributes 43% of the state’s GDP and employs about 60% of the population. He stated that, thanks to his administration’s efforts, farmers have returned to cultivating their lands, and over 500,000 hectares of land have been reclaimed.
Furthermore, Kaduna State was the first subnational entity in Nigeria to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, aimed at transforming agriculture into a high-value economic sector and creating jobs. The Governor also mentioned the ongoing development of the Agricultural Quality Assurance Center (AQAC) with the support of Afrexim Bank to enhance farmers’ produce and reduce post-harvest losses.
He reported that 192 primary healthcare centers and all schools that were closed due to insecurity have reopened in the last two years. The Governor pointed out that peace has returned to the towns of Birnin Gwari and Giwa, which were once hotspots of insecurity, and economic activities are now thriving in those areas.
Governor Uba Sani noted that there has not been any ethno-religious crisis in Kaduna State since he assumed office, arguing that the Kaduna Peace Model, based on a non-kinetic approach, is fundamentally about good governance. He mentioned that the UK government has officially lifted its travel restrictions on Kaduna State, upgrading it from “red” to “amber.” In 2022, the country had placed Kaduna on its “red” list due to insecurity.
While the citizens of Kaduna State and the broader public are pleased with the prevailing peace, the Governor remarked that conflict entrepreneurs are discontent with this positive development.
Earlier, Dr. Neliaku stated that the Nigerian Public Relations Week was first held in Abeokuta in the southwest, followed by a second edition in Uyo in the south-south region. He indicated that Kaduna was chosen through a rigorous selection process, while Kano was on standby in case Kaduna declined the hosting offer.
Dr. Neliaku announced that Nigeria will host the World Public Relations Forum in November 2026, which will be the largest gathering of communication experts worldwide. He mentioned that this forum will include advisors to presidents and corporate managers, marking its second appearance in Africa and the first in Nigeria.
He argued that the upcoming Nigeria Public Relations Week in Kaduna will serve as a foundational program that paves the way for the World Public Relations Forum. Additionally, he revealed plans to establish the first university of Public Relations and Leadership in the world, in collaboration with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication.
