APRA wins Africa PR Legacy Award

The African Public Relations Association (APRA) has been bestowed with the Africa PR Legacy Award, acknowledging its significant impact on the growth and advancement of public relations on the African continent. This prestigious accolade was awarded during the 2026 ASCOM Communication Summit and Awards, which took place on September 17, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

APRA, recognized as the first organization to ever receive the Africa PR Legacy Award, was nominated by a Paris-based communications company specializing in African communication systems and landscapes. The jury behind the award celebrated APRA's 50-year legacy and unwavering dedication to promoting professional unity, standardization, collaboration, and continuous dialogue within the public relations profession across Africa.

ASCOM, the organization responsible for presenting the award, praised APRA's vision and tenacity in establishing a continental professional body with a widespread presence across Africa. ASCOM also commended the Association for its consistent efforts to bring public relations practitioners together to discuss the present and future of the profession.

At the award ceremony, APRA's CEO, Michel Russel Lohore, lauded the Association for its central role in fostering collaboration among public relations professionals across African nations and advocating for accountable public relations and strategic communication as vital contributors to Africa's development. Speaking on behalf of APRA President, Arik Karani, APRA Secretary General Dr Omoniyi Ibietan expressed gratitude to ASCOM, the award jury, and the nominators for recognizing APRA's contributions.

Dr. Ibietan emphasized that the award served as a testament to the five-decade contribution of APRA to the profession and its ongoing commitment to enhancing public relations practice across the continent. He stated that the recognition was not only a tribute to generations of public relations practitioners who built APRA but also a reaffirmation of the Association's responsibility to maintain a platform for professional collaboration, knowledge exchange, ethical practice, and the continuous advancement of public relations on the continent.