Governor Uba Sani has accepted to host the 2026 Nigeria Public Relations Week in Kaduna, promising that next year’s edition will be one of the best events.
The Governor made the pledge when the National President of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku and members of his Executive paid a courtesy call at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House.
Governor Sani also promised to nominate two Government officials to serve on the National Planning Committee and three others on the Local Organising Committee.
The Governor noted that the theme of next year’s event aligns with the broad objectives of the Kaduna Peace Model which emphasises non-kinetic approach towards tackling insecurity.
The theme of 2026 Nigerian Public Relations Week is ‘’Food Security: From Policy Paper To Public Plates, The Public Relations Imperatives.’’
Sani disclosed that when he assumed office, his administration studied the drivers of insecurity because Kaduna State was associated with banditry, kidnapping and ethno-religious crises.
According to him, one of the things he discovered was that insecurity was fuelled by economic crisis, whereby people felt hopeless and abandoned.
The Governor also recalled that Agriculture was under-funded as the budgetary allocation to the sector by the previous administration was less than 1%.
‘’So, we invested heavily in agriculture and we allocated 12% of our budget to the sector, surpassing the Malabo declaration which advised states to devote 10% of the budgets to Agriculture,’’ he added.
Governor Sani pointed out that adequate funding of the Agricultural sector is central to the success of the Kaduna Peace Model because it contributes 43% of the state’s GDP and employs about 60% of the population.
He said that as a result of his administration’s intervention, farmers have returned to farms, adding that over 500, 000 hectres of land have been reclaimed.
According to him, Kaduna State was the first subnational to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria, which aims to transform Agriculture to a high-value economic sector and create jobs.
Governor Uba Sani also said that Kaduna State is also developing the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre(AQAC) with the support of Afrexim Bank, to enhance its farmers’ produce and reduce post harvest losses.
He further disclosed that 192 primary healthcare centers and all schools that were closed down because of insecurity have been opened in the last two years.
Governor Sani noted that peace has returned to Birnin Gwari and Giwa towns that were centres of insecurity, adding that economic activities are now booming in those areas.
The Governor said that there has not been any ethno-religious crisis in Kaduna State since he assumed office, arguing that the Kaduna Peace Model of non-kinetic approach is about good governance.
‘’The UK Government has officially lifted its travel restrictions on Kaduna State, upgrading it from ‘’red’’ to ‘’amber’’. In 2022, the country placed Kaduna on its ‘’red’’ list due to insecurity,’’ he recalled.
Governor Uba Sani pointed out that while the citizens of Kaduna State and the world at large are happy with the prevailing peace, conflict entrepreneurs are unhappy with the positive development.
Speaking earlier, Dr Neliaku said that the Nigeria Public Relations week was first held in Abeokuta in the southwest and the second one was in Uyo in the south-south.
He disclosed that Kaduna was chosen after a very rigorous process but Kano was still waiting in the wings in case Kaduna failed to accept the hosting offer.
The NIPR President revealed that next year Nigeria will host ‘’the World Public Relations Forum, which is the biggest gathering of communication experts all over the world.’’
According to him, the forum comprises ‘’those who are advising presidents, those who are managing corporations; they agreed to come to Nigeria in November 2026. This is the second time it is coming to Africa. And the first time it is coming to Nigeria.’’
Dr Neliaku argued that the third Nigeria Public Relations Week, which will be held in Kaduna next year, will ‘’be the foundational program that will now usher the World Public Relations Forum.’’
The NIPR President disclosed that Nigeria plans to establish the first university of Public Relations and Leadership in the world, adding that ‘’we are working with the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication.’’
