Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has become the first professional body globally to win the Global Public Relations Association of the Year Award for two consecutive years, following its recognition at the 2026 edition.
The back-to-back achievement further highlights Nigeria’s growing influence and professional standing in global public relations and communication management.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, Professor Justin Green, announced the award in Abuja during the launch of the Youth Digital Campaign for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF).
The campaign launch was organised by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of the NIPR’s Local Organising Committee (LOC).
Speaking at the event, Green described NIPR’s consecutive victories as a remarkable achievement and a source of national pride. He said the award followed a competitive international process involving public relations associations from different regions of the world.
According to him, the competition was open to professional public relations associations across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and India.
“It is truly a great honour for NIPR to have won this award for a second time running, which shows the calibre, experience and expertise within Nigeria. It is a true credit that couldn’t have come at a better time,” he said.
The Global Alliance disclosed that the 2026 edition of the awards attracted 92 entries from different countries, with submissions subjected to a rigorous evaluation process by an international panel of distinguished judges.
Reacting to the recognition, NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the achievement demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to lead globally in various fields, stressing the need for the country to harness its abundant local potential to strengthen its international reputation.
Neliaku said the institute remained committed to promoting professional excellence, innovation and strategic reputation management while projecting a positive image of Nigeria to the international community.
“As an institute charged with the responsibility of regulating the practice of public relations and manning the reputation gates of the nation, we understand the value of reputation and we are deliberate in telling the Nigerian story of excellence before the global community. I am proud to say that no country on earth is close to matching our institute’s bold initiatives, innovations and developmental projects,” he said.
The NIPR president further described Nigeria’s hosting of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum as a major opportunity to reposition the country’s image and showcase its potential to the international community.
He said the forum, scheduled to hold from November 15 to 22, 2026, would set a new benchmark for global public relations practice and create lasting value for Nigeria’s national reputation.
Neliaku described the forthcoming WPRF as more than an international professional gathering, saying it represented a strategic national reputation project capable of changing prevailing global perceptions about Nigeria.
According to him, the event would provide Nigeria with an important platform to demonstrate its leadership capacity, professional competence, cultural diversity and potential for global partnerships.
The consecutive international recognition comes as the institute intensifies preparations for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum, which is expected to bring together global public relations practitioners, communication experts, policymakers and industry leaders.
The award further highlights NIPR’s growing international profile and positions Nigeria to contribute to discussions shaping the future of public relations and communication management worldwide.
