The African Public Relations Association, (APRA) has released the full programme of events ahead of its 2019 Conference holding in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to the programme, made available to The Boss, the conference will kick off with an opening ceremony where APRA President, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okusanya is expected to deliver the welcome address.

One of the major highlights of the event will be the conferment of honorary fellowship on HE John Dramani Mahama,  Immediate Past President of Ghana, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission (AUC) and Bashorun Dele Momodu, Chairman/CEO, Ovation Media Group I

Full Programme:

Monday 13 May 2019

08.30 – 10.30hrs Pre-Conference event for University Students
11.00 – 13.00hrs Pre-Conference event for Public Servants
14.00 – 17.00hrs International Communications Consultancy Organisation Meeting

Welcome and Introduction
• Matt Cartmell – Deputy Director- General, Public Relations & Communications Association (PRCA) – United Kingdom

• Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, President, African Public Relations Association (APRA)
Round Table Discussion and Debate:
• Overview of Challenges and Opportunities in Each Country as well as Member Services Offered by Each Association
• Training, Professional Development and Talent Retention Needs Over the Next Five Years
• Managing Global Connections and Participation in Global Causes and Campaigns
• How We Can all Work Together Effectively to Deliver for PR in Africa
19.00 – 22.00hrs Registration

Tuesday 14 May 2019
Day 1 (Opening Ceremony)

07.00 – 09.00hrs Arrival of Delegates/Conference Registration
09.00 – 09.30hrs All Delegates to be seated
09.30 – 09.45hrs Arrival of Speakers/Guests/VIPs
09.45 – 09.55hrs Arrival of Special Guest of Honor
09.55 – 10.00hrs National Anthem (Rwanda/African Union)
10.00 – 10.10hrs Introductions/Recognitions/Flag Parade of African Countries
10.10 – 10.15hrs Welcome Remarks – Herbert Muhire, President, Public Relations Association of Rwanda, PRAR
10.15 – 10.25hrs Video Presentation on Rwanda

10.25 – 10.35hrs Opening Address – Mr. Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, President, African Public Relations Association (APRA)
10.35 – 10.45hrs Goodwill Messages – Guest of Honour & APRA Ambassadors
Justin Green – President Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communications Management (GA)
10.45 – 10.50hrs Chairman’s Opening Remarks – HE John Dramani Mahama, Immediate Past President of Ghana
10.50 – 11.30hrs Keynote Address on the theme: Africa & Storytelling: Guest of Honour
11.30 – 12.00hrs Roundtable Discussion on the Keynote Address Presentation.
Moderator –- Ronke Bamisedun – BWL Agency
Discussants
• Ambassador Kwesi Quartey – Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission (AUC)
• Yomi Badejo-Okusanya – President, African Public Relations Association (APRA)
• Paul Holmes – Founder, The Holmes Group
• A Representative from Rwandan Government
• Chief Dele Momodu – CEO & Publisher, Ovation Magazine International
12.00 – 12.30hrs Investitures
Patron – HE Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
Honorary Fellows
– Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, African Union Commission (AUC)
– HE John Dramani Mahama – Immediate Past President of Ghana
– Chief Dele Momodu – CEO & Publisher, Ovation Magazine International
12.30 – 12.50hrs Sponsored Session – First Bank at 125 – Changing the Narrative of the African Brand – Mrs Folake Ani-Mumuney, Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications – First Bank of Nigeria
12.50 – 13.00hrs Remarks/Vote of Thanks – Jane Gitau, APRA Secretary General
13.00 – 13.15hrs Official Conference Photography Session
13.15 – 14.15hrs Networking Lunch
14.15 – 15.00hrs APRA/Reputation Matters Survey Report – Regine le Roux Managing Director, Reputation Matters Regine
15:00 – 15:45hrs Telling the Climate Change Story across Africa: A Review of Literature – Dr Margaret Amoakohene – Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Ghana
15:45 – 16:30hrs False Narratives About Africa: An Evidential Rebuttal
Dr Wole Olaoye – Chairman, Diametrics Limited, Nigeria
16:30 – 17:00hrs Matt Cartmell – Deputy Director- General, Public Relations & Communications Association (PRCA) – United Kingdom
17:00 Leisure for Delegates

Day 2 – Wednesday 15 May 2019

08.30 – 10.30hrs Storytelling and Message Development: Training Workshop
Robyn de Villers, Vice President, APRA, Chairman & CEO, BCW Africa.
10:30 – 11.00hrs Tea Break
11.00 – 11.45hrs Practical Session: Storytelling Development Group Discussion

11:45 – 12.30hrs Session on Global Alliance – Justin Green – President Global Alliance for Public Relations & Communications Management (GA)
12.30 – 13.30hrs Networking Lunch
13.30 – 14.30hrs Global Trends in Storytelling
Paul Holmes – Founder, The Holmes Group, United Kingdom
14.30 – 16:30hrs Platforms that bind. A case study of Forbes 8 network and how storytelling is bringing together entrepreneurs across the world, starting from Africa. – Cynthia Ofori-Dwumfuo – PR & Marketing Communications Professional |PR Business Lead, Ogilvy, Ghana
16.30 – 17.00hrs APRA and the AU – progress and next steps

17:00 Leisure

Day 3 – Thursday 16 May 2019

09.00 – 09.45hrs The Public Relations Profession, Creativity and Storytelling in Africa- Dr Wole Adamolekun, Head of Department, Mass communication, Elizade University Nigeria

09.45 – 10:30hrs Trends in PR & The Influence of New Media and Technology on The Practice of PR On The Continent: Tactics, Tools, Trends & Technology – A Survival Guide For The Modern Day PR Practitioner Paul Mwirigi Muriungi, Uganda

10:30 – 11:00 Tea Break
11:00 – 11:45 Borderless Boundaries of Digital Corporate Communication in the New African Media Ecosystem: Implications for PR Practice –
Charles C. Okigbo – USA & Dr Margaret Amoakohene – Ghana
11:45 – 12:30 Local Speaker from Rwanda
Speaker TBC
12.30 – 13. 30hrs Networking Lunch
13.30 – 17:30hrs Holmes Report In2Summit
THE AGENCY OF THE FUTURE
Moderator: Paul Holmes
Panelists: Kamal Taibi, Strateus Group (Morocco);
Nick Wachira, Oxygene (Kenya),
Matt Cartmell, Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) (United Kingdom)
THE NEW EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE CONTRACT
Presented by: Jordan Rittenberry, CEO, Edelman Africa
BEST PRACTICES IN AFRICAN PR
Moderator: Paul Holmes
Panelists: Mandy Kojetin, Atmosphere Communications (South Africa); Bidemi Zakariyau, LSF PR (Nigeria);
Cynthia E. Ofori-Dwumfuo, Ogilvy (Ghana);
Lekha Seebaluck, Blast BCW (Mauritius)

19:00– 22.00hrs SABRE Awards Africa (APRA & The Holmes Report)

Friday 17 May 2019
Scheduled Visit to Tourist Attractions
Visit to Kigali Genocide Memorial, Belgian memorial at the Camp Kigali, Old & New Kigali city tour, Campaign Against the Genocide Museum, Kigali Economic Zone & Kimironko local market.