Finalists emerge for National Spokespersons’ Awards 2024

Chairman of the Awards Committee, Mr. Segun Mcmedal

Finalists have emerged for the forthcoming National Spokespersons’ Awards (NSAwards) 2024 after the first round of the screening process by the jury, made up of communication scholars, public relations practitioners, and media personalities.

The NSAwards is jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, and Spokespersons’ Digest, to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of communication professionals and spokespersons across Nigeria.

Chairman of the Awards Committee, Mr. Segun Mcmedal, said 62 finalists were shortlisted from 224 entries for 21 categories, including the most coveted Spokesperson of the Year Award.

According to the immediate past Chairman of Lagos State chapter of the NIPR, the other categories include Outstanding Spokespersons in Financial Services, Technology, Corporate Communication, Political Communication, Multinational, International Relations, Civil Society, Legislature and Executive Arm.

Others are Professional Excellence in Crisis Management (military arm, security service), public sector at Federal and state levels), Regulatory Compliance, Corporate Governance, Environmental Sustainability, Oil and Gas, and the Young Spokesperson of the Year.

In the first screening exercise, the award jury assessed the 224 nominees and selected the finalists based on key criteria, including objectivity, creativity, and effectiveness of the communication campaigns.

While some of the entries demonstrated originality and solutions to contemporary challenges, others provided evidence of the professionalism and effectiveness of their campaigns.

The jury which will determine or select the 21 category winners is chaired by Prof. Mabel Evwierhoma of the University of Abuja, with Abdulrahman Abdulraheem as Secretary.

Other award jury members include Prof. Anthony Igyuve, Prof. Saudat Abdulbaqi, Dr. Arthur Martins-Aginam, Kabir Abdulsalam, and Ishola Ayodele.

The award ceremony will be held during the National Spokespersons’ Summit in Abuja from the 25th to 28th March 2024, with the theme ‘Change Narrative, Change Society’.

Initiated by Spokespersons Digest in 2021, the award ceremony will be the fourth edition this year.

The list of the finalists is as follows:

Distinguished Spokesman in Financial Service

1. Hakama Sidi Ali of the Central Bank of Nigeria
2. Temitope Adaramola of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers
3. Abdulazeez Abdullahi of Kaduna Electric

Distinguished Spokesman in Oil and Gas

1. Olufemi Soyemi of NNPC Limited
2. Michael Adande of Shell Nigeria
3. Jossy Nkwocha of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited

Distinguished Spokesman in Technology

1. Reuben Muoka of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)
2. Hadiza Umar of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
3. Funso Aina of MTN Nigeria

Distinguished Spokesman in Political Communication

1. Rafiu Ajakaye of Kwara State Government
2. Olawale Rasheed of Osun State Government
3. Muktar Gidado of Bauchi State Government

Distinguished Spokesman in Corporate Communication

1. Michael Adande of Shell Nigeria
2. Prince Moses Duke George of Green Ville LNG
3. Olufemi Soyemi of NNPC Limited

Distinguished Spokesman in Crisis Management

1. Peter Afunaya of Department of State Service
2. Hadiza Umar of NITDA
3. SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil of Bauchi Police Command

Outstanding Spokesman Award – Executive

1. Sanusi Bature Kano State Government
2. Olawale Rasheed Osun State Government
3. Abdulrahman Balogun of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)

Outstanding Spokesman Award – Legislature

1. Eseme Eyibo of the Senate
2. Musa Kirishi of the House of Representatives
3. Nkem Nwaeke of Delta State House of Assembly

Outstanding Spokesman Award – Judiciary

1. Modupe Ogundoro of the Federal Ministry of Justice
2. Soji Oye of the National Judicial Council (NJC)
3. Festus Akande of the Supreme Court

Outstanding Military Spokesman

1. General Tukur Gusau of Defence Headquarters
2. Air Vice Marshal Gabwet Edward of the Nigerian Air Force
3. Lt. Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi of Multinational Joint Task Force

Outstanding Security Spokesperson

1. Abubakar Umar of Nigerian Correctional Service
2. Jonas Agwu of Federal Road Safety Commission
3. Olumuyiwa Adejobi of Nigeria Police

Spokesperson Gold Award – Public Sector (Federal)

1. Maryam Sanusi Federal Road Maintenance Agency
2. Okadike Chijioke of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
3. Reuben Muoka of NCC

Spokesperson Gold Award – Public Sector (State)

1. Uba Misili of Gombe State Government
2. Charles Aniagwu of Delta State Government
3. Courage Eboigbe of Edo Internal Revenue Service

Distinguished Spokesperson Award – Civil Society Organisation

1. Kolawole Oluwadare of SERAP
2. Samson Itodo of Yiaga of Africa

Distinguished Spokesperson in Environmental Sustainability

1. Sule Pauline of Great Green Wall
2. Jossy Nkwocha of Indorama Eleme
3. Okadike Chijioke Kingsley of NPA

Excellence in Regulatory Compliance

1. Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
2. NCC
3. Green Ville LNG

Excellence in Corporate Governance

1. Faithful Avokerie Hope-Ivbaze of Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria
2. Kwara State Government
3. Kunle Akogun of University of Ilorin

Most Innovative Spokesperson Award – Diplomatic/Multinational

1. Adewale Adebajo of British High Commission Lagos
2. Abdulrahman Balogun of NIDCOM
3. Michael Adande of Shell Nigeria

Excellence in International Relations

1. Anthony Akuneme of Nigeria Immigration Service
2. Abdulrahman Balogun of NIDCOM
3. Adewale Adebajo of the British High Commission

Young Spokesperson of the Year

1. Stanley Olisa of Air Peace
2. Ndia Matthew of AITEO Group
3. Basheer Luqman Olarewaju (Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Member representing Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency)

Best Spokesperson of the Year

1. Funso Aina of MTN
2. Abdullah Maiwada of NCS
3. Reuben Muoka of NCC