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The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has expressed confidence that the newly-elected executive council of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) will help achieve the association’s long-term goals.
Idris congratulated the newly-elected members during the 35th APRA Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, which took place from May 13-18, 2024.
As a Fellow of APRA, the minister emphasized the importance of this election for advancing public relations across Africa. He stated that the leadership and expertise of the new council will be key to achieving APRA’s vision.
The newly-elected members include Arik Karani from Kenya as president, Dr. Michele Mekeme from Cameroon as vice president, and Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan from Nigeria as secretary-general.
Idris encouraged the new leadership to continue pushing reforms in APRA and urged them to work on encouraging national public relations institutions across Africa to get more involved. He also stressed the need for inclusivity and collaboration to strengthen the public relations profession on the continent.
The minister called for stronger cooperation with the African Union Commission and the Council of Ministers, ensuring public relations remains central to policy development, program execution, and project implementation.
“Public relations should be a core part of policy, programs, and projects,” he added.
Idris also congratulated Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, head of Media Relations at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on his appointment as APRA’s secretary-general. He praised Dr. Ibietan’s experience as a journalist, public relations expert, and author, noting that he is expected to make a positive impact on APRA’s work.
