AU Moves to Deepen Ties with African PR Body to Mend Africa’s Reputation

The African Union Commission (AUC) has once again reiterated its resolve to work with the African Public Relations Association (APRA) in tackling the reputation challenges of Africa.

This assertion was made by the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Thomas Kwesi Quartey. He was meeting with the President of APRA, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Quartey said the vital role APRA can play in the second phase of AU’s mandate as contained in its Agenda 2063, cannot be overemphasized. The initial mandate of the continental body centered around the liberation struggle, while the second phase is focused on integration, he said.

The AUC Deputy Chairperson further appealed to the APRA to propagate values of the AU to Africans. This, according to Quartey, will expedite the already existing efforts to make APRA an affiliate body of the AUC.

Both Quartey and Yomi Bdejo-Okusanya agreed that a Memorandum Of Understanding (MoU) between both organizations be developed to accommodate the various proposed initiatives.

On his part, the APRA President expressed willingness and capacity on the part of the PR body to drive the much needed change in Africa’s perception.

“The best persons to tell Africa’s story are Africans and the best Africans to tell the story are public relations practitioners on the continent and in diaspora,” Yomi Bdejo-Okusanya said.

He assured the Commission that APRA has all it takes to drive and advocate all AU programmes including the Continental Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

The African Union Commission through its Deputy Chairperson, also seized the opportunity to endorse the next annual conference of the professional body tagged APRA Rwanda 2019. The conference will be held in Kigali between May 13 and 17 under the theme ‘Africa and Storytelling’ where about 300 participants will attend.