By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Young public relations practitioners, students and innovators across Nigeria, Africa and other parts of the world have been invited to massively participate in the Youth Innovation Programmes of the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF), a much-anticipated event with many mouth-watering prizes and other benefits.
The invitation and call for participation was announced in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Youth and Students Event for the WPRF, Dr. Nelson Omenugha, who described the programme as a global initiative designed to discover new ideas, promote creativity and empower the next generation of communication professionals.
Dr. Omenugha said that Forum and the Youth Innovation Programmes present unique opportunities for young thinkers, creative strategists and emerging voices in public relations to showcase their talents on a continental and global stage.
According to him, the Youth Innovation Programmes initiative is part of activities lined up for the World Public Relations Forum 2026, which will bring together professionals, scholars and industry leaders from different parts of the world.
Dr. Omenugha explained that the Youth Innovation Programmes are aimed at encouraging young professionals to contribute fresh ideas that will help shape the future of the public relations and communication industry, especially at a time when technology, digital media and storytelling are redefining how organisations engage with the public. He noted that the programme is not only a competition but also a platform for mentorship, exposure and professional development.
In his words, participants are expected to register officially for the forum before submitting their entries, as eligibility for shortlisting, pitching and final awards is strictly tied to full registration for the event.
He added that applicants may participate as individuals or as teams, depending on the category, while all submissions must be original, innovative and in line with the guidelines provided by the organisers.
Dr. Omenugha further listed the categories for the competition to include the PR Tech Innovation Challenge for teams, the PR4SDGs Innovation Challenge for individuals or small groups, and the Cultural Storytelling and PR Exchange Hackathon designed for creative teams interested in using communication to promote cultural identity and social impact.
“Participants may apply as individuals or teams depending on the category. Programme Categories include: PR Tech Innovation Challenge (Teams of 3–5), PR4SDGs Innovation Challenge (Individuals or teams of up to 4), and Cultural Storytelling & PR Exchange Hackathon (Teams of 3–5),” he explained.
He also noted that the programme is open to students of public relations, young professionals aged 35 and below, as well as innovators working in media, technology, non-governmental organisations, creative industries and other communication-related fields.
Highlighting some of the benefits, he revealed that successful participants will have the opportunity to present their ideas before leading professionals and global stakeholders, gain international visibility and compete for prizes, ranging from $2,000 for the first position, $1,000 for the second position, to $500 for the third position. The organisers further emphasized that the programme is intended to encourage bold thinking, innovation and solutions capable of addressing real communication challenges in Africa and beyond.
Dr. Omenugha emphatically urged interested participants to take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the future of the profession, noting that the global public relations industry is evolving rapidly and requires the input of young innovators who are ready to challenge existing ideas and develop new approaches.
He added that the deadline for submission of applications is April 24, 2026, while further details and registration are available on the official portal of the World Public Relations Forum 2026.
“To register, click: https://www.wprf2026.niprng.org.ng/youth-innovation-challenge
“Application Deadline is Friday, 24th April, 2026
“This is more than a competition; it is a platform to lead, disrupt, and define the future of Public Relations in Africa and the world,” he declared.
Dr. Omenugha further interested participants that participation in the competition is strictly tied to full registration for the WPRF 2026.
“Participation is STRICTLY tied to full registration for WPRF 2026. (Register here: https://www.wprf2026.niprng.org.ng/tickets)
“Submitting your project alone does NOT qualify you; you must complete official event registration to be eligible for shortlisting, pitching, and final awards,” he stated.
He further warned that all entries to be submitted for the competition must be original, innovative, and compliant with programme guidelines, as any form of plagiarism, false information, or non-compliance will lead to immediate disqualification.
He concluded that the Youth Innovation Programme represents one of the major highlights of the WPRF, expressing optimism that the initiative will produce a new generation of public relations leaders whose ideas will influence communication practice in Africa and the world.
