The decision was unanimously adopted at the Association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which concluded on Thursday in Swakopmund, Namibia, on the sidelines of the Effective Communicators Conference.

The event attracted senior government officials from across Africa, including Namibia’s Vice President, Lucia Witbooi, Botswana’s Vice President, Ndaba Gaolathe, Governor of Namibia’s Erongo Region, Natalia Goagoses, and Namibia’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus.

Vote of Confidence

Delegates commended the outgoing Executive Council for what they described as significant achievements over the past two years, including strengthening national and regional public relations associations, deepening collaboration with African ICT ministers and other strategic stakeholders, and improving APRA’s governance and operational structures.

In recognition of the administration’s performance, the General Assembly unanimously endorsed the return of the three elected officers, who will continue to serve alongside Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the Association’s immediate past president and a non-elective member of the Executive Council.

New Constitution Expands Executive Council

One of the key outcomes of the AGM was the ratification of APRA’s new Constitution, which expands the Association’s Executive Council to improve continental representation and governance.

The revised structure introduces the positions of Treasurer, Assistant Secretary General, and six Regional Coordinators representing East Africa, Francophone Africa, Indian Ocean Islands and Associated African Islands, North Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa.

The Assembly mandated the re-elected leadership to commence the process of filling the new positions ahead of APRA’s 37th Annual Conference, scheduled to hold alongside the World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) in Abuja from November 15 to 21, 2026.

Supporting Africa’s Digital Transformation

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Council, APRA President Arik Karani thanked delegates for renewing their confidence in the leadership and outlined the Association’s next strategic priority: supporting the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa.

Karani said effective communication would play a critical role in driving Africa’s digital future, adding that APRA would leverage its continental network of public relations and communication professionals to promote awareness, build public trust and strengthen stakeholder engagement around digital transformation initiatives.

According to him, the Association will collaborate with the African Union, governments, development partners, academia, the private sector and civil society to:

• Promote public awareness of Africa’s digital transformation agenda.
• Champion digital literacy through strategic communication campaigns.
• Advance ethical and responsible digital communication practices.
• Build the capacity of communication professionals in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital innovation.
• Foster stronger collaboration among policymakers, innovators, the media and citizens.
• Position public relations as a strategic enabler of Africa’s digital economy and the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

About the Leaders

Karani is a communications strategist with experience advising governments, development organisations and private sector institutions on digital strategy, stakeholder engagement, crisis communication and artificial intelligence. He has previously worked with the World Bank Group, ChildFund and the Government of Kenya.

Vice President Prof. Michele Mekeme is a respected communications scholar and public relations professor who has taught in universities across Cameroon and the Central African sub-region.

Secretary General Dr. Omoniyi Ibietan, a faculty member of the Rome Business School’s Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme, has consulted for the MacArthur Foundation, Mastercard Foundation and Heinrich Böll Foundation.

He previously served as Regional Media Researcher for Freedom House and Special Media Adviser to Nigeria’s former Minister of Information and National Orientation.

The re-election comes as APRA intensifies efforts to strengthen professional communication standards across Africa while positioning public relations practitioners as key stakeholders in the continent’s digital transformation agenda.

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