NPRW Conference 2026: FG, Stakeholders Partners Customs to Push For Strategic Communication on Food Security
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Nigerian Stakeholders led by the Vice President of Nigeria, VP Kassim Shettima GCON, has partnered Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to promote effective communication strategies around food security and policy awareness at the 2026 Nigerian Public Relations Week 2026 held in Kaduna.
At the week-long event, which began on April 19, 2026 at the Brigadier General Abba Kyari Banquet Hall, policymakers, media professionals, and communication experts dialogued to examine the role of public relations in addressing food inflation and strengthening food security.
The conference which was graced by the Nigerian Vice President, Kashim Shettima, and Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sanni, the Nigeria Customs Service NCS demonstrated strong participation, with over 29 Public Relations Officers attending, highlighting the Service’s commitment to improving institutional communication, stakeholder engagement, and professionalism in public relations practice.
Delivering his remarks, Vice President Kashim Shettima emphasized that the success of the current administration’s reforms hinges on public understanding and trust. He warned that technical policy language often creates a barrier between the government and the governed.
“Governance cannot afford to be distant. Policy cannot afford to be opaque. Leadership cannot afford to speak a language the people no longer understand,” Shettima declared. He described Public Relations not as a mere promotional tool, but as a “strategic function of governance” essential for managing uncertainty and building lasting trust.
He challenged practitioners to translate complex government initiatives into “human meaning” to mitigate public resistance and foster national unity.
Governor Uba Sani, who was formally honored as a Patron of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), linked the conference theme directly to the state’s development agenda.
He noted that moving from “policy paper to plate” requires more than just resources; it requires “credibility, clarity, and connection.”
“In Kaduna, we are repositioning agriculture from the margins to the center of our development agenda to ensure food security is continuous, not seasonal,” the Governor stated.
Earlier, the President of the NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, framed the week as a strategic intervention to contribute to good governance. He lauded the “Kaduna Peace Model” and Governor Sani’s inclusive leadership style, suggesting it should serve as a national template for community relations.
Dr. Neliaku also used the platform to make a major announcement: “Nigeria will host the Global Summit on Public Relations in November 2026, welcoming delegates from 160 nations to our shores.”
The keynote speaker, Ambassador Dr. Brylyne Chitsunge, a renowned pan-African food security expert and CEO of Elpasso Farms, alerted stakeholders that food security is a “critical pillar of national stability.”
She urged Nigeria to address the disconnect between its vast agricultural potential and the actual delivery of food to the public, citing communication gaps as a major hurdle to implementation.
The event marks a significant milestone for the NIPR as it continues to advocate for the professionalization of communication across all levels of the Nigerian government.
Highlight of the event was the high-level panel discussion on the importance of strategic communication in tackling food inflation and enhancing public understanding of government policies.
In his remarks, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasized the critical role communication plays in policy implementation.
According to him, effective dissemination of policy information ensures public understanding and support, particularly in areas such as trade facilitation and border management. He noted that when citizens clearly understand policies and their impacts, compliance and alignment improve significantly.
Other panelists, including Ambassador Bryiyne Chitsunge and communication expert Agnes Bassey, identified climate change and insecurity as key contributors to food inflation.
They stressed that poor communication around these issues often leads to misinformation and public distrust.
The session also called for more data-driven and solution-oriented media reporting, as well as stronger collaboration between government institutions and the media to promote balanced narratives on food security and national development.
The participation of the Nigeria Customs Service at NPRW 2026 underscored its strength in the food industry and it’s growing recognition of communication as a vital tool in driving policy success, particularly in addressing food security challenges and enhancing public trust.
The Nigeria Institute of Public Relations Week conference showcased the process of government policies communication, and identifying strategic Public Relations as the “missing link” between policy conception and successful implementation.