Nigeria has begun official preparations to host the globe’s biggest gathering of communication professionals — the “World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2026” — with a national unveiling ceremony held in Abuja on Monday.

The event, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the NAF Conference Centre, marked the official flag-off of Nigeria’s campaign, promotion, and marketing drive for the historic forum scheduled for November 2026.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, described the World Public Relations Forum as “the World Cup of Public Relations,” noting that Nigeria is ready to host delegates from 126 countries under the umbrella of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA).

According to him, the forum presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria to tell its own story to the world and showcase its cultural, intellectual, and professional excellence in a way that has never been done before.

“The World PR Forum will bring together communication professionals, academics, and policymakers from across continents. This is our time to show the world the authentic Nigeria — creative, resilient, and responsible,” Neliaku said.

He added that hosting the global event, along with the 2026 Africa Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference, positions Nigeria as the communication hub of Africa and underscores the country’s growing reputation in strategic communication and reputation management.
P
The NIPR President expressed gratitude to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, for his steadfast support in helping Nigeria secure the hosting rights for the global forum.

“This event is more than a celebration for public relations professionals; it is a national project that gives us the chance to present Nigeria in its true image before the international community,” he noted.

Neliaku announced that the global unveiling of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum will take place next month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, signaling the beginning of international awareness for the Abuja event, a year from now.

“Everyone wants to come to Nigeria,” he declared. “We are set to host the biggest, brightest, and boldest World Public Relations Forum ever held. We are going to do what other past hosts haven’t done.”

Delivering his keynote address, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi described Nigeria’s hosting of the WPRF 2026 as both a national honour and a call to excellence.

He said the event offers Nigeria a global stage to showcase its diversity, creativity, and communicative strength, reaffirming the government’s commitment to repositioning the country’s image through truth, professionalism, and responsible storytelling.

The Minister noted that the forum aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of restoring trust between government and citizens while promoting Nigeria’s positive identity before the world. He emphasized that in an era of disinformation and global polarization, communication professionals must rise as custodians of truth and builders of social cohesion.

He called on Nigerian public relations practitioners to use the forum as a platform to lead the global conversation on ethical communication, truth-driven advocacy, and public accountability.

According to him, responsible communication is not only the theme of the forum but also the moral compass that should guide all professional communicators in shaping narratives that unite rather than divide.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced the commencement of online registration for its Basic Military Training Course (BMTC) 46/2025, inviting qualified Nigerians to apply for enlistment as airmen and airwomen.

In a public notice shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the Force disclosed that registration is free and will run from October 14 to November 25, 2025. Interested candidates are to complete their applications through the NAF recruitment portal: nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng

Upon completing the application process, candidates are required to print and duly sign the Acknowledgement Form, Parent/Guardian Consent Form, and Local Government Area (LGA) Attestation Form. These documents must be endorsed by appropriate authorities, including:

A military officer not below the rank of Wing Commander (or equivalent in the Army or Navy);

A Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) or higher;

A Local Government Chairman or Secretary; or

A Magistrate from the applicant’s state of origin.

The LGA Attestation Form must be accompanied by a passport photograph and a copy of the signee’s driver’s licence, national ID card, or international passport.

Eligibility Criteria

Read Also:
Bilyaminu Bello’s Family Condemns Presidential Pardon for Maryam Sanda, Cites “Inexorable Pain”
Kano Police Bust Armed Robbery Syndicate, Arrest 9 Suspects, Recover Weapons
Improving Nigeria’s Digital Safety Through Customs–NCC Synergy
According to the NAF, applicants must:

Be Nigerian citizens;

Be medically, physically, and psychologically fit in accordance with NAF standards;

Have a minimum height of 1.66m (for males) and 1.63m (for females);

Be free from any previous criminal conviction by a court of law.

For Non-Tradesmen/Non-Tradeswomen:

Applicants must be between 18 and 22 years old;

Possess a minimum of five (5) credits, including Mathematics and English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO, GCE, NABTEB, or NBAIS;

Present a secondary school testimonial.

For Tradesmen/Tradeswomen:

Applicants must be between 18 and 27 years old;

Hold ND or NCE qualifications with at least a lower credit from accredited institutions;

Have five (5) credits, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than two sittings;

Possess relevant trade test certificates and, for drivers, a valid driving licence.

For Sportsmen/Sportswomen:

Applicants must also meet the minimum educational requirements and

Present proof of professional experience, such as certificates or medals.

The NAF noted that the zonal aptitude test for shortlisted candidates will be conducted at a later date, to be announced via the recruitment portal.

By James Aduku Odaudu

In many countries, the end of a long and dedicated public service career is the beginning of a dignified and stable life in retirement. In Nigeria, however, for thousands of civil servants who have given more than three decades of their productive years to the nation, retirement too often marks the beginning of financial hardship, neglect, and even humiliation.

This tragedy is most painfully experienced by those who retire at the directorate cadre—officers who, while in service, managed substantial public resources and held the system together. Ironically, upon retirement, these same individuals are treated as if they are incapable of managing their own modest entitlements.

 From Resource Managers to Helpless Beneficiaries:

Under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) introduced in 2004, retirees’ savings are warehoused by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), who release paltry monthly stipends to them. These amounts are not only meagre but demeaning. Today, many retired Directors receive less than ₦100,000 monthly, an amount far below what is needed to maintain even a modest standard of living in any urban area in Nigeria.
This is the same category of officers who, while in service, were trusted to manage budgets running into hundreds of millions of naira. Yet, upon retirement, the system strips them of control over their own contributions, handing their future to “experts” who determine how much they get and when.

 The Gratuity Question: A Cruel Denial;

Before the CPS era, retiring civil servants received gratuity—a lump sum payment that helped them settle into retirement, invest, or build homes. But the abolition of gratuity under the current system has left many retirees stranded and vulnerable. Without that initial cushion, most are forced to rely solely on meagre monthly pension payments.

For a Director who served 35 years to retire without gratuity and live on less than ₦100,000 a month is not only unjust but humiliating. For junior officers, the situation is even more dire, with many receiving pensions below ₦40,000—barely enough to buy basic household provisions, let alone live a decent life.
This policy failure has erased the concept of strategic retirement and replaced it with economic dependency and quiet suffering.

 A Policy That Cripples the Vulnerable

Junior retirees, who make up the bulk of the civil service, bear the heaviest burden. After years of diligent service, they are pushed into poverty the moment they exit the system. Many relocate to rural areas because they can no longer afford city life. Some take on menial jobs to survive. Others fall into ill health without the means for treatment.
A pension policy that condemns its weakest to such hardship is not just flawed—it is inhumane.

 A Jarring National Contrast:

While civil servants battle to survive on peanuts, other categories of national service enjoy far better treatment. An athlete who wins a medal for the country can receive up to $100,000 in a single reward, more than many civil servants will receive throughout their service, including retirement. Again, the issue is not the athlete’s reward but the glaring injustice in how the state values different kinds of service.

Even more striking is the disparity between civilian retirees and their military counterparts. In Nigeria, retired senior military officers—from the rank of Brigadier General and above—receive their full salaries as pension for life, along with other privileges. Only Permanent Secretaries in the civil service enjoy similar treatment.

This raises a fundamental question: why should a Brigadier General and a Director who joined service at the same time, served the same number of years, and retired at equivalent levels, receive such vastly different pension entitlements?

This inequity is at the heart of the anger and disillusionment of many senior civil servants. By denying Directors the same privileges accorded their military contemporaries, the system creates two classes of retirees: one treated with honour and security, the other discarded with token payments.

 A Root of Corruption;

There is a direct link between poor retirement benefits and corruption in the civil service. When senior civil servants know that their reward for decades of service will be a life of hardship, some are tempted to engage in unethical practices while in office to secure their future.
By contrast, military officers retire with certainty, enjoying their full salaries and benefits, which gives them a sense of security. If the same privilege were extended to Directors and other senior civil servants, it would reduce the incentive for corruption and restore dignity to public service.

 The Human Cost of Policy Failures:
The current pension regime is not just a technical failure—it has human consequences. Retirees who gave their lives to the service of the nation are reduced to beggars, dependent on children or relatives for survival. Many are unable to afford decent healthcare, while others die in quiet frustration, abandoned by a system they served loyally.

The denial of gratuity and the meagre monthly pension erode trust in government and discourage younger civil servants from honest service. It sends a dangerous message: public service does not pay.

 A Call for a Just and Humane Policy –

The Federal Government must urgently reform the pension system to reflect fairness, respect, and strategic foresight. This requires:

i. Restoring gratuity to give retirees a soft landing at the point of exit.

ii. Allowing retirees, especially at directorate level, to access and manage their lump sum benefits.

iii. Aligning pension entitlements of Directors with those of Brigadier Generals and Permanent Secretaries, so they can also receive full salaries for life.

iv. Adjusting pension payouts to reflect economic realities, especially in light of inflation and rising cost of living.

v. Protecting junior retirees, who represent the bulk of the civil service, from being trapped in permanent poverty.

 Restoring Dignity in Retirement –
Retirement should be a celebration of service, not a descent into hardship. Nigeria must treat its civil servants with the same respect and dignity accorded other categories of service.
Extending full pension privileges to Directors and restoring gratuity would not only correct a historic injustice but also strengthen accountability in the civil service. A nation that honours its retirees builds a stronger, more honest, and more patriotic workforce.

✅ James Aduku Odaudu, PhD is a development administrator, communication consultant, and retired Director of Information and Public Affairs.