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  • APRA expresses sympathy over devastating floods in Nigeria, Cameroon

    APRA expresses sympathy over devastating floods in Nigeria, Cameroon

    The African Public Relations Association (APRA), the umbrella body of public relations practitioners and professionals in Africa, has extended its deepest sympathies to the governments and people of Nigeria and Cameroon in light of the devastating floods affecting the two countries.  

    The incidents include the recent severe flooding in Borno State and other parts of Northeast Nigeria, as well as in Cameroon’s Far North Province, particularly the city of Yagoua, the capital of the Mayo Danay Department.

    APRA lamented over the tragic floods caused by the collapse of a dam in Maiduguri and by torrential rains in Mayo Danay. These floods have led to numerous fatalities, widespread displacement, and significant ecological disruption.

    The Association said it is deeply concerned about the impact of the floods on local markets and livelihoods in Maiduguri and surrounding areas, as well as the reported escape of wildlife, including dangerous reptiles, after the partial destruction of a zoo.

    The APRA’s message was conveyed in a statement by its Secretary General, Omoniyi Ibietan, on Tuesday, September 17.

    The statement read: “In Cameroon, over a hundred primary and secondary schools are affected as well as livestock, infrastructure and livelihoods.

    “In these incidents, we are faced with humanitarian crises and, therefore, really concerned about the recurrence, just a month after the collapse of the Arba’at Dam in Sudan that equally caused deaths and displacement of persons in many communities.

    “APRA is determined to work with all governments, institutions, and other stakeholders within and outside the continent to address communication management on climate change and other topical issues central to securing livelihoods, improving quality of life, and enhancing growth across sectors in Africa.

    “Just two months ago, APRA leaders met with other stakeholders within the Association to announce the institutionalization of committees to act on specific challenges of African people. One of these teams focuses on the African Union and Related Linkages.

    “Through that committee, APRA plans to leverage its observer status with the African Union and engage with appropriate councils of ministers to enhance communication management that will transform many sectors in Africa.”

    Read Also: APRA decries terror attack in Burkina Faso

    It further stated: “APRA is united behind the aims of the governments and peoples of Nigeria and Cameroon to find solutions to the humanitarian crises attending the disasters.

    “The central governments of these countries, the subnational governments in Borno State and Far North Province in Nigeria and Cameroon respectively, and other local and international stakeholders are commended on their responses to the crises to bring succour to those affected by the floods.

    “On behalf of all members, the Executive Council of APRA hereby sends sincere condolence to those who lost family members and friends, and wishes the displaced, the injured as well as those whose livelihoods have been affected a speedy recovery.”

  • APRA urges dialogue

    APRA urges dialogue

    The African Public Relations Association (APRA) has expressed solidarity with the Federal Government and people of Nigeria over the protest in response to rising costs of living.

    The group called for sincere and continuous dialogue to ensure speedy resolutions of issues that led to the protests.

    “Protests and advocacies for improved social conditions are constitutive of civil liberties and central to democratic practice. Indeed, democracy dies without a guarantee of civil liberties. APRA, therefore, commends the Nigerian government for its expressed guarantee and non-aversion to the expression of the right to protests by citizens and the actions it has taken to prevent the escalation of the crisis.”

    Read Also: Protests: Police blast Amnesty over inaccurate casualty figures

     “APRA noted with concerns the reported death of persons – including citizens and security forces, injuries to many persons, looting of business assets, theft of equipment and other resources in public utilities – including telecommunication infrastructure, food processing companies as well as instances of destruction and arson that have resulted from the first day of protests. APRA’s commitment to seeing Africa prosper requires that we condemn the unjustifiable death of citizens and security personnel as well as looting and vandalism of infrastructure emplaced to improve the quality of life of the people.

    “Therefore, we call on all actors – state and non-state – to stop the hostilities and the outrage. In their stead, APRA advocates continuous dialogue and sincere conversations to ensure quick and concrete resolutions of the issues. We call on the government of Nigeria, including subnational entities, to work with all stakeholders and restore normalcy to the nation. Nigeria is central to Africa’s vision for the progress and development of the continent.

    “APRA shares in the grief of families that have lost their members in the ongoing crisis and pray for the repose of the souls of the departed. We wish those recuperating from injuries a speedy and complete recovery and hope that institutions and persons that have lost properties will be supported to recover quickly and return to business to support government’s effort to reflate the Nigerian economy,” the group said in a statement endorsed by its President, Arik Karani.

  • APRA hosts 29th annual conference in Morocco

    The 29th edition of the annual African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference themed: ‘Competitive Africa: Effective Positioning through Integrated Communications’ is set to hold in Casablanca, Morocco from the 10th to 12th May, 2017.

    The confab will attract professionals in advertising, brand management, broadcast journalism, publishing, film-making, print journalism, new media and practitioners from the integrated marketing communications industry and is aimed at showcasing a positive Africa through the instrumentality of public relations.

    This year’s edition will play host to professionals from all works of life including PR, marketing, corporate chieftains and high ranking government officials and will enable discussions and conversations around critical issues facing the African continent as well as opportunities to boost the profession of PR in Africa.

    Some of the key speakers are Jon Aarons, Senior Managing Director, Global Head of Network FTI Consulting, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya – African Public Relations Association (APRA) President, Bart de Vries – International Public Relations Association President, Maxim Behar – ICCO President, Seyithan Teymur – Managing Director Newsmeter, Jane Gitau and others.

  • Buhari urges APRA to change Africa’s narrative

    Buhari urges APRA to change Africa’s narrative

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged African Public Relations Practitioners Association (APRA) to work towards changing the negative stories being told about the continent by foreign content developers.

    He spoke at the 2016 African Public Relations Association conference in Calabar, Cross River State.

    Its theme was: Leapfrogging Africa: The role of communication.

    Represented by former Chairperson of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, Buhari urged PR professionals to ensure that good stories about the continent are told rather than stereotyped negative ones.

    “Since Africa has been perceived as a continent of strife, war, pestilence, anarchy, corruption and massive poverty, as portrayed by the foreign media, a lot of these are prevalent, but the truth is that there are also good stories about us (Africa). Across the globe, Africa and Africans are achieving phenomenal feats in their various endeavours. It is time for us to change the narrative; it is time us to sell a positive Africa, one that is full of hope and a brighter tomorrow.

    “For this new Africa to emerge, her citizens have to embrace change. We can no longer do things the way we used to, and expect different results, we must modernise. By modernising I mean we embrace knowledge, knowledge means education and technology.”

    He said for Nigerians to have voted ‘Change’ during the last general elections, change can happen across Africa.

    “Only last year we were able to prove to the world that Africa can uphold novelty ideals by electing a party in opposition to government. On assumption of office, we quickly realised that challenges were much more than we had ever imagined; therefore, we had to painstakingly retract the cost of governance. This has, no doubt, occasioned severe belt tightening decisions,” he said.

  • Nigerian elected APRA President

    A strategic communications expert and Chief Executive Officer of CMC Connect, Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, has been elected President of Africa Public Relations Association (APRA), the continent’s Public Relations professional regulatory body.

    The election was conducted by the Governing Council of APRA. Mrs. Jane Gitau of Kenya emerged as Secretary General. The election climaxed activities marking the 28th edition of APRA International Conference tagged APRA Calabar 2016.

    The APRA executive was immediately inaugurated by the Council led by the outgoing President Mr. Peter Mutie from Kenya, and witnessed by Ms. Christina Chima, outgoing Vice President from Zimbabwe; Mr. Bart de Vries, President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA); and delegates from various part of the continent also witnessed the transition.

    According to Mutie, other committee’s positions zoned to other regions in the continent will be made public at a later date. The executive committee will serve for two years with a maximum of two terms.

    Badejo-Okusanya, prior to his emergence as the president, was the Secretary-General of APRA. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and past Chairman, NIPR, Lagos State Chapter.

  • APRA to reposition Africa

    APRA to reposition Africa

    The African Public Relations Association (APRA) is to ensure that African countries are well-positioned.

    It intends to use theAfrican Union (AU) platform to achieve some of its objectives to boost the image of the continent against some perceived stereotypes being peddled against it.

    At the 26th Conference of APRA in Mauritius, African PR practitioners set an agenda that will go a long way in positioning Africa in a positive light.

    Tagged “Advancing Africa”, the conference identified key intervention areas on the continent which it hopes to bring the association’s activities to bear upon.

    The conference attracted many public relations practitioners, the media, communication specialists and members of the business community from both within and outside the continent.

    The Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Justus Mwencha, gave the keynote address.

    Other notable speakers included the renowned Paul Holmes of the Holmes report fame, Jeremy Galbraith, CEO, EMEA; Burson Marsteller, former IPRA president from Egypt; Loula Zaklama, Robyn De Villers, chairman, BM Africa, Ian Riley, Folake Ani-Mumuney of First Bank, Muyiwa Afolabi and Adekunle Ayeni.

    The Secretary General, APRA, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, said the conference provided a platform for  his colleagues to strategise on ways to tell the African story by Africans rather than allowing foreign media to narrate it.

    “The only way to tell the full story is for Africans to tell our own story. Public relations should be used extensively to advance the course of Africa. APRA is set to put out a balanced story and clear the ‘dark continent’ perception. APRA is set to make African nations more attractive and inviting to investors,” he said.

    Since the inception of the administration in 2011, APRA set, as its target, membership drive, continental relevance,  increased financial base, capacity and  a sound  administrative structure.

     

  • Dangote, Muyiwa Afolabi, others for APRA

    Dangote, Muyiwa Afolabi, others for APRA

    The Group CEO of Frontiers International Services Limited, Muyiwa Afolabi, has been named among Nigeria’s representatives at the 26th edition of the annual African Public Relations Association (APRA) conference scheduled to hold in Mauritius from May 27 to May 31. The conference, whose theme is “Advancing Africa”, is expected to be attended by more than 500 delegates from different sectors.

    It will also be attended by prominent Nigerians like Aliko Dangote and Ayeni Adekunle, both of whom have confirmed their attendance and accepted to speak. Muyiwa Afolabi, who is also billed to be one of the speakers, is a strategic thinker with world-class experience in value chain process management.

    A capacity building professional, he has trained thousands of employees in several world-class business establishments across the different sectors of the Nigerian economy. The APRA conference is aimed at creating and enabling professional environment for accurate perception, goodwill and understanding of the necessary and effective performance of public relations practice in Africa.

  • Agekameh is Strategic Management’s Fellow

    Multiple award- winning journalist and columnist, Dele Agekameh, is one of the recipients of this year’s Fellows award of the Institute of Strategic Management (ISM).

    He and other awardees will be installed at the institute’s upcoming Fellows Night/Investiture, which will hold on December 6 at the L.C.C.I., Ikeja, near MKO Abiola Gardens, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The ceremony will be preceded by a workshop, which holds at the same venue between 9am and 1pm.

    Agekameh is a Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria and also a senior member of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and other professional bodies and business groups.