Experiencing PR 2025 conference to showcase Public Relations’ impact on business, leadership transformation

Onome Amuge

Nigerian Women in Public Relations (NGWIPR) is set to lead the charge towards utilising PR as a transformative force for businesses and leadership in the country, in the run-up to the highly anticipated 2025 edition of its flagship event, the Experiencing PR Conference.

The conference, themed “PR for Results: Innovative Strategies for  Business and Leadership Transformation”, is scheduled to take place on March 19, 2025, at the Civic Centre in Lagos. It aims to bring together industry leaders, influencers, and practitioners to share insights on how PR can drive innovation, growth, and transformation in businesses and leadership across Nigeria.

The Experiencing Public Relations hybrid conference is an annual gathering of  accomplished business leaders, senior public office holders and experienced Public  Relations professionals to highlight the results Public Relations has delivered for  businesses and society at large. 

The 2025 conference will feature a choice  of speakers selected across business, public service and the communications industry  from Africa, Middle East and Europe. 

The keynote address at Experiencing PR 2025 will be delivered by  Jumoke  Oduwole, minister, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. 

With  the value of the public relations sector in Europe and North America estimated to  reach $24.5 billion and $29 billion by 2029, the Ministry’s participation at the conference  is particularly notable as the country seeks to diversify the economy as well as promote  trade and investment, highlighting the public relations industry and generally the  services sector’s capacity to contribute exponentially to the national GDP. 

Speaking on this year’s theme and the importance of the Experiencing PR conference  Tolulope Olorundero, Public Relations Consultant and Founder of Nigerian Women in  Public Relations, stated that the Experiencing PR conference is a platform created to  celebrate competent leaders, amplify business results and recognise investment in  public relations by forward-thinking organisations and executives. 

Olorundero stated, “Repositioning  public relations, particularly in developing economies like Nigeria, requires a different  approach because of the peculiarities in public and private life. The 2025 theme  answers a key question for those who ask – what can PR really do for my ministry or my  business? We are bringing business leaders and industry experts who will discuss their  results and provide strategies others can use to do even more. 

“As a professional social  impact organisation, our contribution as an advocate for the understanding of public  relations and the development of the industry both locally and internationally is  reinforced with each edition of the Experiencing PR conference we deliver.” 

Sessions at the Conference will include a fireside CEO chat with Paul Onwuanibe, CEO  Landmark Group, with discussions focused on “How Industry Leaders Leverage  Storytelling to Expand into New Markets and Maintain Competitive Edge”. 

The Industry  Panel session will feature experts in the public relations and communications industry, including Israel Opayemi, CEO and Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa; Victoria  Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé  Nigeria; Kanyi Mwangi, Communications Director, East and West Africa, Mastercard;  and Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor, Head of Communications, Brands and Event, Lafarge  Africa Plc to discuss the topic, “Transformative Public Relations Strategies for Winning  in Developing Markets.” 

The panel conversation will be moderated by Rosemary  Otalor, Account Director, PR and Strategic Communications, APO Group. 

The Mentorship Chat at the Experiencing PR 2025 conference will feature two  breakout sessions with a public relations stream and a business stream. Odion  Aleobua, CEO, Modion Communications will be hosted in a mentorship chat with Joy  Ngwolo-Udemezue, Chapter Lead, The Comms Avenue. 

At the same time, the  business stream will have Funke Bucknor-Obruthe, CEO, Zapphaire Events Group as  the mentor in conversation with Oluchi Ajala, Chief of Staff at SpaceFinish, as the  mentee.  

In addition, delegates will be able to listen in to their conversations, and ask questions  from the mentor, in an informal-style chat using silent headsets. 

Two new sessions have been introduced for the Experiencing PR 2025 Conference to  further enhance the experience of delegates. The Leaders Lounge will feature two  accomplished executives who have leveraged social media platforms like LinkedIn to  grow businesses and secure global career-advancing opportunities. Dr. Glory Edozien,  Founder and President, 9to5Chick and Gbenga Totoyi, HR Thought Leader speak at  the Leader Lounge during the conference. 

In an effort to encourage more African professionals to contribute to the global body  of knowledge in their various industries, the conference will host The Authors Corner  which brings three authors who have published a book on public relations and  communications in the last one year. Ayotunde Akinfenwa, Adedoyin Jaiyesimi and  David Akinfenwa will be speaking about their respective writing and publication  processes during this session at the Experiencing PR 2025 conference. 

Special addresses will also be delivered from leaders of global PR bodies including  Advita Patel, 2025 President, Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), and Kate  Midttun, Chairperson, Middle East Public Relations Association. 

Yetty Ogunnubi, CEO of YD Company and Chairperson of the Experiencing PR  2025 Planning Committee, expressed her enthusiasm for the high-quality speakers  lined up for this year’s conference. 

“Each speaker has a proven history of delivering  innovative and impactful outcomes within their respective domains. Extensive efforts  were made to carefully select, evaluate, and secure the participation of each  speaker, guaranteeing that conference delegates will depart with tangible strategies  that can be applied in their own fields to drive transformative results,” she said. 

The Experiencing PR 2025 conference will run in a hybrid mode so delegates can  attend in person at the Civic Centre or join virtually from anywhere across the world.  

The Conference welcomes both men and women, senior professionals, mid-level  executives across industries and students.

Delegates can register to be a part of the conference at  www.experiencingpr.com.