News Highlights:
- APRA and Namibia’s NAMPA sign strategic MoU to co-host the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference (ECC) in Swakopmund, Namibia.
- Over 1,000 delegates, including heads of state, diplomats, industry leaders, journalists and public relations professionals, are expected at ECC 2026.
The African Public Relations Association (APRA) and the Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA) have formalised a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening communication as a catalyst for Africa’s development, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-host the 2026 Effective Communicators Conference (ECC).
The agreement, signed in Namibia, paves the way for the hosting of the continental communication summit from July 14 to 17, 2026, at The Dome in Swakopmund, Namibia’s renowned coastal resort and adventure capital.
The conference, themed “Communication Reconsidered: A Driving Force for Constant Progress,” is being co-organised by Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), led by the Minister, Honourable Emma Theofelus.
The Minister had earlier unveiled activities leading up to the conference in Windhoek following the formalisation of the partnership between NAMPA and APRA.
The collaboration underscores growing recognition across Africa of communication as a critical enabler of governance, development, economic growth and social cohesion.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, APRA President, Mr Arik Karani, represented by APRA Secretary General, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, commended African governments and institutions for increasingly placing communication at the centre of governance and public engagement.
Karani described the partnership between APRA and Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, through NAMPA, as a landmark step towards promoting professional standards and repositioning communication as a vital driver of progress across the continent.
“We are committed to telling the African story with shared intentions, cooperative, evidence-based, safe, ethical and responsible communication, to enhance understanding, trust, stability and prosperity of the continent,” Karani stated.
The Effective Communicators Conference is expected to bring together Africa’s leading thinkers and practitioners in public relations, marketing, government communications, journalism and digital media, alongside international partners, to explore how strategic communication can shape the continent’s future and prosperity.
The gathering aligns with APRA’s vision of advancing communication as a premium driver of development while creating opportunities for scholars, professionals and policymakers to exchange ideas, generate knowledge and acquire relevant skills for addressing contemporary communication challenges.
Designed around six high-level strategic forums, ECC 2026 will provide specialised platforms for leaders, practitioners and decision-makers to deliberate on emerging communication issues. While discussions will draw significantly from Southern African experiences and priorities, organisers expect the outcomes to have continent-wide relevance.
One of the conference’s flagship sessions will be the Heads of States and Diplomatic Forum, which will convene presidents, vice presidents, ministers and diplomatic representatives to align regional communication priorities and strengthen Africa’s narrative on the global stage.
Other key forums include the Captains of Industry Forum, focusing on the role of business in driving regional progress; the Editors and Journalists Forum, where media leaders will discuss press freedom, information integrity and the future of African journalism; and the Government Communicators Forum, designed for public sector communication professionals to share best practices and align messaging strategies.
The conference will also feature a Strategic Communications and Public Relations Forum, bringing together consultants, agency executives and in-house communication strategists to examine crisis communication, reputation management and integrated campaigns, as well as a Digital Storytelling Forum, which will explore emerging technologies, social media platforms, artificial intelligence in content creation and the growing influence of creator-led storytelling across Africa.
With more than 1,000 participants expected, ECC 2026 is being positioned as one of the continent’s most significant gatherings of communication leaders and policymakers. The event will further reinforce communication’s evolving role in Africa’s pursuit of growth, development and prosperity.
APRA is also expected to hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting during the conference, ahead of its 37th Annual Conference scheduled for Abuja in November 2026 as part of the World Public Relations Forum.