Ajakaiye, Akogun Among Nominees For NIPR’s National Spokespersons’ Awards 2024

Abuja, Nigeria– Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Mallam Rafiu Ajakaye, and the Director of Corporate Services at the University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, have been nominated for the prestigious National Spokespersons’ Awards (NS Awards) 2024.

They were among the finalists after the first round of the screening process by the jury, which is made up of communication scholars, PR 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 outstanding contributions of communication professionals and spokespersons across Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Awards Committee and former Chairman of NIPR, Lagos Chapter, Mr Segun Mcmedal, said 62 finalists were shortlisted from 224 entries for 21 categories, including the Spokesperson of the Year Award.

The other categories are 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 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 that will determine/select the 21 category winners is chaired by Prof Mabel Evwierhoma, with Mr. Abdulrahman Abdulraheem as Secretary.

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

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

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

See the List of the Finalists below

POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

Rafiu Ajakaye of kwara State

Olawale Rasheed of Osun

Muktar Gidado of Bauchi State Government

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Mrs Faithful Avokerie Hope-Ivbaze of FAAN

Kwara State Government

Kunle Akogun of Unilorin

FINANCIAL SERVICE

Hakama Sidi Ali of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Temitope Adaramola of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB)

Abdulazeez Abdullahi of Kaduna Electric

OIL AND GAS

Olufemi Soyemi of NNPC

Michael Adande of Shell

Dr. Jossy Nwakocha of Indorama Eleme

TECHNOLOGY

Reuben Muoka of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)

Hadiza Umar National Information Technology Agency (NITDA)

Funso Aina of MTN Nigeria

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION

Michael Adande of Shell

Prince Moses Duke George of Green Ville LNG

Olufemi Soyemi of NNPC

CRISIS MANAGEMENT

Peter Afunaya of DSS

Hadiza Umar of NITDA

SP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil of Bauchi Police Command

EXECUTIVE ARM

Sanusi Bature Kano State Govt

Olawale Rasheed Osun State Govt

Abdulrahman Balogun of NIDCOM

LEGISLATURE

Eseme Eyibo of the Senate

Musa Kirishi of the House of Rep

Nkem Nwaeke of Delta State House of Assembly

JUDICIARY

Mrs Modupe Ogundoro Ministry of Justice

Soji Oye of the National Judicial Council (NJC)

Festus Akande of the Supreme Court

MILITARY

Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau of Defence Headquarters

AVM Gabwet Edward of the Nigerian Air Force

Lt Col Abubakar Abdullahi of MNJTF

SECURITY

Abubakar Umar of NCOS

Jonas Agwu of FRSC

Olumuyiwa Adejobi of the Nigeria Police Police

PUBLIC SECTOR FEDERAL

Maryam Sanusi FERMA

Okadike Chijioke Phd of NPA

Reuben Muoka of NCC

PUBLIC SECTOR STATE

Uba Misili of Gombe State Government

Charles Aniagwu of Delta state

Courage Eboigbe of EIRS Edo

CIVIL SOCIETY

Kolawole Oluwadare of SERAP

Samson Itiodo Yiaga of Africa

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Sule Pauline of Great Green wall

Dr. Jossy Nwakocha of Indorama Eleme

Okadike Chijioke Kingsley of Nigeria Port Authority (NPA)

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)

Green Ville LNG

MULTINATIONAL/DIPLOMATIC

Adewale Adebajo of British High Commission Lagos

Abdulrahman Balogun of NIDCOM

Michael Adande of Shell

International Relations

Anthony Akuneme of NIS

Abdulrahman Balogun of NIDCON

Adewale Adebajo of the British High Commission

YOUNG SPOKESPERSON

Stanley Olisa of Air peace

Ndia Matthew of the AITEO group

Basheer Luqman Olarewaju SA to Hon. Muktar Shagaya

SPOKESPERSON OF THE YEAR

Funso Aina MTN

Abdullah Maiwada of Nigeria Customs

Reuben Muoka of NCC