Twenty winners emerged in the 4th National Spokespersons Awards (NSAwards) ceremony, which was organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and its partner, Image Merchants Promotions, at the iconic International Conference Center in Abuja on March 27, 2024.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, said that “The National Spokespersons’ Awards recognise accomplishments, motivate others to strive for excellence, enhance visibility, and add legitimacy to the reputation of recipients by demonstrating superiority, expertise, and uniqueness. The awards also provide avenues for networking opportunities and business relationships, improve employees’ performance, and boost their morale.”

The Awards ceremony is a part of the inaugural National Spokespersons Summit with the theme Change Narratives, Change Society, which was held from March 26 and 27, 2024, at the same venue.

The winners of various categories of the awards included Hakama Sidi Ali (CBN), Distinguished Spokesperson in Financial Service Award; Olufemi Soyemi (NNPC PLC), Distinguished Spokesperson in the Oil and Gas Industry; Adewale Adebajo (British Council), Most Innovative Spokesperson in Diplomatic & Multinational Award; Jossy Nkwocha, Indorama Petrochemical), Distinguished Spokesperson in Environmental Sustainability; Charles Aniagwu (Delta State), Spokesperson in Public Sector Gold Award (State); Maryam Sanusi (FERMA), Spokesperson in Public Sector Gold Award (Federal); Festus Akande (Supreme Court), Outstanding Spokesperson Award in Judiciary; and Eseme Eyibo (Office of the Senate President) Outstanding Spokesperson Award in Legislature.

Others included Sanusi Bature (Kano State) who won the Outstanding Spokesperson Award in the Executive Arm; Reuben Muoka (NCC) won the Distinguished Spokesperson in Technology; Jonas Agwu (FRSC) won the Award for the Outstanding Security Spokesperson; Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau (Defence Headquarters) won the Award for Outstanding Military Spokesperson; Peter Afunanya (DSS) won the Award for the Distinguished Spokesperson in Crisis Management; Michael Adande (Shell Company) won the Award for the Distinguished Spokesperson in Corporate Communication; while Rafiu Ajakaye (Kwara State) won the Award for the Distinguished Spokesperson in Political Communication.

Furthermore, Stanley Olisa (Air Peace) won the Young Spokesperson of the Year Award; Abdullah Maiwada (Nigeria Customs Service) won the Best Spokesperson of the Year Award; and Abdulrahman Balogun (NIDCOM) won the Excellence in International Relations Award. The Nigeria Customs Service won the award for Excellence in Regulatory Compliance, while the Kwara State Governor smiled home with the Excellence in Corporate Governance Award in the corporate category.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the Chairperson of the Jury, Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma, said most of the campaigns were campaigns executed in the last year.

She pointed out that the assessment criteria adopted in selecting winners were based on communication objectives, clarity of strategy, theme and relevance, channel selection, creativity and innovation, storytelling and framing, engagement with the audience, use of new technology, effectiveness of communication, and professionalism.

The scholar said, “The Jury received the entries from the 151-page document on March 5, 2024, out of which three candidates were shortlisted in each category out of 224 nominees. Those who received at least 50% of the vote were chosen as nominees. Some of the entries demonstrated originality and solutions to contemporary challenges, while others provided evidence of the professionalism and effectiveness of their campaigns. The three finalists were asked to submit a two-minute video of their campaigns for ultimate selection in the Spokesperson of the Year category, which is the flagship award. Only two responded: Reuben Muoka and Abdullahi Maiwada.”

“After the first segment of the assessment, the Jury shortlisted the candidates according to the frequency of mentions in each category. The next step was electronic voting, which commenced on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. We congratulate the winners and affirm greater hope of future success for any candidacy that was not successful. There is always another chance for better results,” she concluded.

The Chairman of the Award Coordinating Committee, Segun Mcmedal, who is the immediate past Chairman of the Lagos NIPR, commended the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) for partnering with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, and the Spokespersons’ Digest in hosting the 4th National Spokespersons’ Awards. He noted that the three previous editions were organised between 2021 and 2023 by Image Merchants Promotions.

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The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has endorsed 20 award categories for the forthcoming National Spokesperson Awards (NSAwards).

The Vice President of NIPR, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, confirmed the development shortly after the Minister of Information, Alhaji idris Malagi unveiled the action plan on the forthcoming National Spokespersons’ Summit billed for March 2024.

Prof Dandaura said the award ceremony which is being organised in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons’ Digest, is to acknowledge outstanding contributions of communication professionals and spokespersons across Nigeria.

“The idea of the award is to identify spokespersons who are doing extraordinarily well in their communication and engagement with the public and serving as worthy role models to upcoming practitioners.

Dandaura also commended the Information Minister for unveiling the action plan on the National Spokespersons’ Summit being organised by the NIPR in collaboration with the Ministry and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

“The National Spokespersons’ Summit which was unveiled by the Honourable Minister, a Fellow of our institute, will attract brilliant minds in the profession to teach, inspire and learn.

“While the Summit will provide the opportunity for learning latest skills and trends, the award ceremony will provide opportunity for networking and gaining insights into successful PR campaigns by spokespersons.”

In his remarks, the Cordinating Chairman of the awards Committee and former Chairman of Lagos NIPR Chapter, Mr Segun Mcmedal, said the awards would encourage creativity, inclusivity, and measurable impact in public communication, stakeholders’ engagement, issue and reputation management among others.

He disclosed that the award entries would be assessed by the Jury compirsing communication scholars, PR practitioners and media personalities based on the campaign objectives, channel selection, creativity and innovation, engagement with audience and Effective impact

Speaking further, McMedal said the award categories would recognise outstanding spokespersons in Political Communication, Crisis Communication, Financial Services, Technology, Sustainable Environment, Military and Security Services.

Other categories include accomplished spokesperson in public sector both in the federal and state government as well as the other branches of government: the Judiciary, Legislature and the Executive arms.

Similarly, the award would recognise professional excellence in Civil Society
Organisations, International/Multinational bodies, Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance.

Mr. Mcmedal announced www.NSAwards.ng as the official portal for the submission of entries for the National Spokespersons’ Awards.

By PRNigeria

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TECH DIGEST – The Lagos State Chapter, the leading branch of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), has unveiled programmes to mark this year’s edition of its flagship Public Relations Week; themed: Managing Public Communication, Building Trust.

The weeklong event holds from Friday, June 25th – Thursday, July 1st, 2021.

The Lagos Public Relations Week is the flagship event for communications practitioners setting agendas and deepening the relationship with key stakeholders in exciting ways.

According to the Chairman, Lagos State Chapter, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (Lagos NIPR), Segun Mcmedal, more than 3,000 participants, volunteers and audiences are expected to take part in the weeklong programme, which is supported by reputable corporate bodies, public relations consultancies and the media.

“The Lagos PR Week will start with a special Cocktails and Networking Mixer designed to fraternize and strengthen relationships between Public Relations Practitioners and the most influential stakeholders and sponsors on Friday, June 25, 2021.

“On Tuesday, June 29, 2021, there will be the Acts of Kindness Roadshow and Tours. The Members of the Chapter and stakeholders will embark on a special visit to an autistic home including touring select government establishment, media organisation and corporate bodies who have supported the Institute over the years.

“There will be a Special Workshop for the Public Affairs Managers in Local Government Development Authorities in Lagos State, tagged: Public Affairs Manager of the Future, in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Strategy and Local Government Service Commission, Lagos State on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

“The programmes marking the Week will climax with the Strategic Discourse featuring Prof Pat Utomi, delivering the keynote paper entitled: Managing Public Communication, Building Trust, at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, on July 1, 2021”.

McMedal added that the Discourse has featured technocrats and change agents and it is now recognized as a relevant forum due to its focus on pertinent socioeconomic and political issues such as governance, leadership, resource management and national reputation.

“The Annual General Meeting and Election of new executives who will lead the affairs of the Chapter is also billed to hold at the same venue after the Discourse”, he said.

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