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By Gloria Ikibah

The European Union has approved €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to help Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic contain the worsening cholera outbreak spreading across West and Central Africa.

The intervention comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported more than 61,000 cholera cases across the African region within the first five months of 2026, raising concerns over the growing public health crisis.

Nigeria, which has recorded one of the highest disease burdens, will receive the largest share of the funding, amounting to €1.5 million.

According to the European Commission, the support will be used to expand emergency response teams, provide essential medical supplies, distribute cholera treatment kits and strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.

The funding will also support the treatment of public water sources and household water, improve epidemiological surveillance in hard-to-reach communities and strengthen case management, risk communication and public awareness campaigns.

Cameroon will receive €100,000 to support outbreak containment efforts through the deployment of additional personnel, provision of essential medicines and establishment of more cholera treatment units and oral rehydration centres in affected communities.

In the Central African Republic, €500,000 has been earmarked to improve case management, expand vaccination campaigns and strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene programmes.

The funding will also support surveillance, case detection, community engagement and provision of safe and dignified burials.

Chad will receive €200,000 to improve access to clean water, strengthen sanitation services and support community-based surveillance and treatment programmes aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.

European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the outbreak highlighted the devastating consequences of inadequate access to basic healthcare and clean water.

“Cholera is preventable and treatable. Yet it still threatens lives when people lack something as basic as safe water and healthcare.

“At a time when humanitarian needs are growing and resources are shrinking, Europe is not looking away.

“This emergency funding will help our partners act quickly, contain the outbreaks and protect the communities most at risk,” Lahbib said.

Health experts say cholera is caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium and is commonly transmitted through contaminated water or food.

The disease can cause severe diarrhoea, leading to rapid dehydration and shock if left untreated.

Although cholera remains a major public health challenge in many developing countries, the European Commission noted that it is not a common health problem in Europe and that the risk of transmission from imported cases remains low.

The latest intervention underscores growing international concern over the spread of cholera across Africa, where poor sanitation, limited access to clean water and humanitarian crises continue to fuel outbreaks.

Public health experts have repeatedly stressed that improving access to safe drinking water and strengthening healthcare systems remain the most effective long-term solutions to preventing future outbreaks.

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By Gloria Ikibah

Abuja the nation’s capital is set to become the global capital of public relations in November as communication experts, policymakers, diplomats, academics and business leaders from across the world converge on Nigeria for the 2026 World Public Relations Forum (WPRF).

Beyond professional discussions, organisers have unveiled an ambitious cultural programme that includes the maiden edition of the Nigeria Jollof Rice Festival, expected to attract about 10,000 participants, alongside a fashion showcase designed to promote Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.

The week-long event, themed “Responsible Communication: The Voice of the World,” will examine the evolving role of communication in governance, peacebuilding, technology, conflict resolution, sustainable development and the fight against misinformation.

President and Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, disclosed the plans during a briefing with members of the Diplomatic Corps in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the forum will go beyond the traditional conference format by creating a platform for direct engagement between communication professionals and key stakeholders from different sectors.

He explained that the event would bring together policymakers, business executives, diplomats, security experts, academics and other major users of communication services.

Neliaku said one of the most significant outcomes of the gathering would be the development of the Abuja Declaration on Responsible Communication, a framework expected to shape the future of public relations over the next decade.
He noted that organisers intentionally designed the forum to encourage dialogue among stakeholders from different sectors.

“We deliberately decided to bring stakeholders into the same room to listen to their expectations, challenges and experiences,” he said.

The forum is expected to attract participants from the fields of politics, governance, business, commerce, technology, academia, security, faith-based organisations, traditional institutions, diplomacy, youth development and civil society.
Activities lined up for the event include high-level policy dialogues, workshops, masterclasses, networking sessions and expert-led discussions.

The event will also host the 37th African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference and an African Ministers of Information Roundtable, which Nigeria’s Minister of Information is expected to lead.

Perhaps one of the biggest attractions of the forum will be the introduction of the Nigeria Jollof Rice Festival, which organisers say will combine culture, cuisine and social responsibility.

The festival is expected to provide meals for about 10,000 people while promoting one of Nigeria’s most celebrated dishes on the global stage.

International visitors will also have the opportunity to experience African fashion through a seven-hour tailoring pavilion, where delegates can have traditional outfits made and take them home as souvenirs.

The programme will further feature exhibitions, entertainment and an interactive experience zone showcasing Nigerian and African art, food, culture and creativity.

Neliaku said the cultural elements were deliberately integrated into the programme to ensure that visitors experience Nigeria beyond the conference environment.

Another major highlight of the forum will be the proposed Abuja Declaration on Responsible Communication.

The declaration is expected to build on the historic 1978 Mexico Statement, which established a widely accepted definition of public relations and outlined the profession’s core responsibilities.

Neliaku explained that the communication landscape has changed significantly over the past five decades, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence, social media, digital platforms and the increasing spread of misinformation.

He said the forum would provide an opportunity for global communication experts to review existing principles and develop a framework that reflects today’s realities.

The discussions, he added, will focus on how communication can better support governance, peacebuilding, conflict resolution and the management of emerging global challenges.

Describing the event as a “once-in-a-lifetime engagement,” Neliaku urged stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the future of the profession.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to serve as the chief host, while President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia is expected to deliver the presidential keynote address.

Representatives from several international organisations, including the United Nations, the World Bank, UNESCO, Interpol, the World Press Agency and the World Customs Organisation, are also expected to attend.

The programme will feature the World Public Relations Awards to recognise outstanding individuals and organisations, while a special Global Alliance publication on responsible communication is expected to be unveiled.

Youth engagement will also feature prominently, with the Global Youth Public Relations Summit scheduled for November 20, 2026.

Neliaku said the NIPR, Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, and APRA are committed to developing the next generation of communication professionals.

He urged diplomatic missions to encourage young people from their respective countries to participate.

According to him, young people must be given opportunities to engage in international conversations and develop the skills required to become responsible leaders.

Speaking on behalf of the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Philippine Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Mersole Mellejor, described the forum’s theme as both timely and relevant.

He noted that the growing spread of misinformation and fake news had made responsible communication more important than ever.

According to him, the forum will provide an opportunity for communication experts, academics and policymakers to examine how communication could promote social cohesion, inclusion, good governance and sustainable development.

Mellejor also described Nigeria as a major economic, cultural and innovation hub, adding that Abuja was an ideal venue for the global gathering.

He assured organisers of the support of the Diplomatic Corps.

With its blend of professional dialogue, cultural diplomacy, food, fashion and entertainment, WPRF 2026 is expected to offer the world a unique opportunity to experience Nigeria while shaping the future of global communication.

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More than £150,000 has been raised for the family of late University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday following his death and the controversy surrounding plagiarism allegations that preceded his resignation from the university.

The fundraising campaign was launched on Saturday by Windrush campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon, shortly after Arday died on Friday.
Vernon said the strong public response reflected widespread concern for Arday’s bereaved family and anger over the circumstances surrounding the controversy.

“Britain still cares – people, black, white, brown, care and feel angry about the situation,” Vernon said, according to The Guardian.

He said the donations were intended to support Arday’s family, including his parents and young relatives, rather than address questions about his personal finances.

Arday, who had held a senior academic position at Cambridge, came under intense scrutiny following allegations of plagiarism. He resigned from his position as Professor of Sociology of Education shortly before his death.
Cambridge had previously indicated that it would examine issues surrounding Arday’s appointment and tenure as part of a broader review of its procedures for appointing senior academics.

However, the university is understood to have decided against continuing the investigation while his family mourns.
Cambridge Chancellor Chris Smith on Monday addressed the controversy, saying allegations of academic misconduct should be investigated rigorously while cautioning against what he described as a racially charged campaign against Arday.

Smith said it was possible to uphold academic integrity and investigate plagiarism allegations while also rejecting what he called “a racist feeding frenzy” against an individual academic.

Vernon was among prominent figures who publicly supported Arday as the controversy intensified. Green Party leader Zack Polanski and crossbench peer Simon Woolley were also among signatories to an open letter backing the late professor.
Vernon said the episode had raised broader questions about media scrutiny, university accountability, press regulation and race relations in Britain.

Meanwhile,
campaign group Stand Up to Racism is expected to hold a vigil for Arday at Trafalgar Square in central London on Monday evening.
His death has also renewed scrutiny of the support available to academics facing intense public pressure, including questions about welfare and mental health support.

Downing Street has so far declined to say whether an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Arday’s death would be considered, saying it was not prepared to comment “at this stage.”

The fundraising campaign remains ongoing, with supporters urging the public to focus on assisting Arday’s bereaved family as debate continues over the allegations and events that preceded his death.