2024 NIGERIA PUBLIC RELATIONS WEEK, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE

Conference Day 1: Induction of Fellows

Day one of the Conference begins with a celebration of the new set of practitioners to become fellows of the NIPR, the highest membership grade of the Institute. These individuals who have successfully gone through the rigorous screening exercise by the Fellowship Advisory Committee will be inducted as Fellows during the Nigeria Public Relations

Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony will set the tone for the Week. It will feature a plenary where conversations will centre around the Conference theme, “Leveraging Public Relations as a Critical Asset for Nigeria's Economic and Reputation Renaissance.” Through this session, delegates and attendees will emerge with a better insight of the strategic role Public Relations plays in shaping Nigeria’s reputation and economic prosperity. A highlight will be the investiture of the Governor of Ogun State, H.E. Dapo Abiodun MFR as a Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. A surprise presentation during the opening will be ‘The Ogun All Stars’ production. Watch out for it.

Lunch

Lunch break

1. Public Relations Consulting BS 101: ‘Public Relations Consulting: What’s The Big Picture?’

To keep your Public Relations agency afloat and flourishing, embracing a savvy consulting and business-focused attitude is key. Facilitated by PRCAN, this session will underscore the importance of adopting a consulting mindset when running a Public Relations business. Public Relations professionals will dive into the world of consulting, exploring vital strategies, top-notch models, and cutting-edge practices to stay on top of the game in the Public Relations industry.

2. Financial Inclusion (BS1-002): ‘Under-banked, Under-served, Under-communicated: Finding a True North for Financial Inclusion

Financial inclusion has emerged as a pivotal priority and benchmark within the sector in recent years. Despite significant efforts, bridging the gap to integrate the unbanked population into the ecosystem remains a pressing challenge. This session aims to delve into the vital role that strategic communications has in engaging and appealing to the under-served and under-banked segment of the population. By the end of this session, participants will gain strong insights into fundamental principles and strategies that can be employed to communicate effectively and advance the financial inclusion agenda among stakeholders in the Nigerian banking and finance sector.

3. ‘We Are Talking, But Who Is Listening? Solving This Challenge of Public Affairs in Nigeria’ : (BS1-003)

In the face of constantly somersaulting government policies in Nigeria, the responsibilities of Public Affairs & Government Relations Directors from the private sector is ever challenging. A key pain point is their seeming inability to communicate effectively with the government, which most times appears ‘tone deaf’ to their business concerns. This session will explore how Public Affairs professionals can overcome the challenge of not gaining the attention of and winning over this critical stakeholder. It will also underscore the essential competencies and objectives that professionals in this capacity must fulfil to meet their organisations' expectations and strategic goals.

4. Storytelling Masterclass :(BS1-004)

Story, Story…Story! Once Upon A Time...Time, Time!’ From the days of stories of the fabled tortoise told in village squares to NTA's ‘Tales by Moonlight’ in Nigeria, stories have continued to endear audiences near and far. As Public Relations professionals, the ability to tell compelling stories should be one of our paramount strengths, making it crucial for us to master the art of weaving creative stories Through this masterclass, PR professionals will learn how to mould narratives, and capture hearts and minds through the magic of storytelling. Participants will pick up tips to become master storytellers. The workshop will stimulate imagination and knowledge of how to create captivating stories that resonate with a broad and specific audience. We invite you to learn and enhance the fine art of master storytelling!

5. Destination Marketing ‘Work, Live, Play and Invest: Your State as the Next Destination’: (BS1-005)

Destination marketing raises the question of how well the nation and its component states are positioning themselves as the next destination to work, live, play and invest. In this breakout session, we will delve into innovative communication approaches to harness destination marketing opportunities in Nigeria. Through some case studies, it will explore locally relevant out of the box communication ideas that states can adopt.

6. PR Ethics: Public Relations: Who Ethics Epp? (BS1-006)

Quite often, Public Relations has been associated with derogatory acts, the most common in our climes being illicit gratification. What defines ethical conduct in Public Relations, and how important should ethics be to Public Relations practitioners? In a time where moral boundaries are often unclear, it has become critical to define the boundaries. Through this session, we will shed light on the ethical dilemma and challenges encountered by Public Relations professionals, the damaging effects of unethical practices and the standards that Nigerian professionals must uphold to maintain a reputable standing within the industry.

Networking Session for Delegates

This one hour session will be an opportunity for delegates to build and expand their professional network by mingling with like-minded professionals within the Public Relations industry and experts from diverse fields.

Delegates’ Hangout & Karaoke Night

Social Activities

Conference Day Two and Closing: Breakfast Session - Health & Well-Being Talk

How well are we taking care of our health and minds as Public Relations practitioners? What do we need to do to protect our mental health as we manage the demands of our profession? Participants will leave this session armed with valuable information on how to stay well. There will also be some free medical checks.

Workshop Session 1: ‘AI & The Future of Public Relations’ (BS2-001)

Artificial Intelligence is the future of Public Relations and as professionals, we must fully get on the train! During this two-hour workshop, participants will gain a hands-on understanding of the evolution of AI and learn how to proactively engage it. In addition, the workshop will delve into practical application of AI tools to enhance our work and improve outcomes for our clients and businesses.

Workshop Session 2: ‘Numbers Don’t Lie: Data-Driven Public Relations’ (BS2-002)

What exactly is the return on investment of Public Relations. What role does data play in the work that we do? With organisations increasingly asking what the value of Public Relations is, it is becoming imperative to run data-driven practices that will significantly help to empirically sell the value we bring to the ‘table’. This workshop will explore how to collate, analyse and leverage data across different aspects of the work we do - from reputation research to gaining audience insights and tracking key metrics, to determining the effectiveness of our Public Relations plans. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a much deeper knowledge on how to use data to develop strategies and campaigns that yield the desired outcomes. They will also be equipped to communicate results effectively to key decision-makers using language that resonates with them.

Breakout Session Day 2: ‘Brand PR, Corporate Comms & The Bottomline’ (BS3-001)

Does Brand Public Relations and Corporate Communications actually impact the bottomline? If so, how can this be leveraged to improve the relevance of Public Relations and Corporate Communications within an organisation? This session will delve into how Brand PR and Corporate Communications fare within the marketing mix. Participants will certainly gain innovative ideas to effectively oversee their respective roles within the organisation, enrich their knowledge of marketing and corporate strategies.

Breakout session Day 2: ‘Re-Securing Nigeria - How Far Can We Get With Public Relations?’ (BS3-002)

Meaningful development of a nation will be a myth in the face of pervasive insecurity. With the several strategies deployed by security agencies across the nation to stem the tide, what more can be done to re-secure Nigeria, and specifically how can Public Relations come in? Conversations during this session will centre around ways security operatives can utilise Public Relations to tackle this hydra-headed monster threatening our National existence.

Breakout session Day 2: 3.‘Creative Industry: ‘What’s The Big Deal?’ (BS3-003)

The growth of the Nigerian creative industry especially in recent years has been nothing but phenomenal. However, the question is, where is Public Relations in all of this? From the rumoured $125 million buy-in of Mavin Records by UMG to the N1.5 Billion box office earnings of Funke Akindele’s ‘A Tribe Called Judah’, where are we? As the creative industry continues to make significant contributions to the Nigerian economy, Public Relations needs to have a ‘seat on the table’ when the script is being written and the deals are made. This session will explore how Public Relations can be plugged into these essential conversations and deals within the creative industry. Whether it’s in music, movies or sports, we will discuss how Public Relations can shape impactful deals and position the industry for increased investment and support.

Breakout session Day 2: ‘Get on Track, Stay on Track - A Mentorship Session For Young Professionals’: (BS3-004)

This exclusive session is tailor-made for budding practitioners. It is an opportunity to tap into the wisdom of leading Public Relations experts and at the same time offer peer review. The session which will take the form of a fireside chat.

Breakout session Day 2: ‘Sustainability and Authenticity: Getting It Really Right’ (BS3-005)

Sustainability is essential to the success of any organisation in today's world but how can organisations communicate sustainability in a way that is authentic to the vision and purpose of the organisation? In this session, we will explore authentic ways in which sustainability can be embedded into the DNA of an organisation and how to avoid falling into the trap of greenwashing as an organisation seeks to project sustainability to its target audience and stakeholders.

Breakout session Day 2: ‘Sailing On The Blue Economy: Perspectives For Strategic Communications’- (BS3-006)

If you are not sailing, you are drowning. There is no better time to ‘sail’ on the blue economy than now. As the blue economy continues to expand and open up diverse opportunities, Public Relations needs to find a footing within this emerging industry.

Closing Plenary: ‘It Is High Time To Redefine What Public Relations Is!’

After decades of practice and doing what we know how to do best, if people are still confused about what we do and what value we bring to the table, isn’t it time to redefine Public Relations? Whether you are on ‘team maintain the status quo’ or you are on ‘team change’, we can all agree that Public Relations needs Public Relations. In this hearty conversation to close the Nigeria Public Relations Week, let’s talk about how to shift perception and understanding about what we do as Public Relations professionals. How we communicate Public Relations to the public needs to change and through this closing plenary, we can come to a consensus on the most effective way to define and communicate the value of Public Relations.

Adire on Runway & Gala Nite

Social Activities

Annual General Meeting

AGM

Guided Tours

Olumo Rock, Ransome-Kuti Museum, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Adire Market & Agro Cargo International Airport, Ilisan Remo.

Closing Party

Delegates Depart

Please note that this schedule is subject to change without notice.