The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations has unveiled the winners of its 5th edition of the national spokesperson award.

The event themed, ‘Integrity and Evolving Roles of Spokesperson in Leadership Communication’ was held on Wednesday at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Federal Capital Territory. 

The National Spokespersons Awards, previously known as the Spokespersons Communication Awards, is a ceremony that seeks to acknowledge and recognise outstanding spokespersons who have shown excellence in communication, public management and reputation management, driving positive impact nationwide.

The award included 62 finalists shortlisted for recognition across 22 categories put together by the adjudication committee led by Shuaibu Husseini. 

The award categories, nominees and winners were for the Outstanding Federal Government Spokesperson; nominees included Bayo Onanuga of the Presidency, Dele Oyewale of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and Josephine Adokuru Mudasiru of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). Mr Oyewale won the category.

In the outstanding state government spokesperson category, nominees included Abdullah Abdulkadir of Edo State, Ismail Isah of Kogi State, and Uba Misili of Gombe State, with Mr Misili clinching the award. 

For the outstanding corporate spokesperson, the nominees are Jossy Nkwocha of Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, Rafiat A.Gawat of Tropical General Investment, and Shade Morlan of Nigerian Breweries. Ms Morlan emerged the winner.

In the outstanding spokesperson security services, the nominees included, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, DCC Abubakar Danlami of the Nigerian Correctional Service and Femi Babafemi of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Mr Babafemi won the category.

Besides, the category for most innovative spokesperson multilateral/multinational, featured Igo Weli of Shell Petroleum, Stanley Olisa of Helpster US Inc., and Viola Graham Douglas of Lafarge as the nominees. However, Ms Graham Douglas carted home the award. 

The category for outstanding spokesperson banking sector has Amaechi Okobi of Access Holdings, Hakama Sidi-Ali of Central Bank of Nigeria and Mabel Adeteye of Wema Bank. Mr Sidi-Ali beat others to the award.

Nominees for outstanding spokesperson in the insurance sector included Aishat Bello-Garuba of Leadway Assurance and Rotimi Aleshinloye of AICO Insurance. Ms Bello-Garuba smiled home with the award. 

Nominees for the Outstanding Spokesperson Crisis Management Public sector category, included ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Manzo Ezekiel of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and Osagie Edward Omoruyi of NIMASA with Mr Adejobi emerging as the winner. While in the private sector of the same category were Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya of CMC Connect and Emmanuel Osedebamen of Julius Berger as the nominees. Mr Osedebamen emerged as the winner.

For the Outstanding Spokesperson in the Health sector nominees included, Chief Moji Makanjuola of Ranlal Global Services, Cyril Monye of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and Remi Adeleke of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

Mr Monye emerged winner of the category.

Nominees for the outstanding spokesperson education sector were Habib Yakoob of the University of Abuja, Fabian Benjamin of JAMB, and Lukman Omoniyi of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN). Mr Benjamin won the award. 

The nominees for outstanding spokesperson NFC 2025 digital economy included Hadiza Umar of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Olusegun Ayeoyenikan of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and Reuben Mouka of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Ms Umar emerged winner in this category.

Also nominated for the outstanding spokesperson marine and blue economy were, Ikechukwu Onyemekaara of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Olumuyiwa Akande of Sifax Group, and Osagie Omoruyi of NIMASA. Mr Osagie went home with the award. 

For the distinguished spokesperson power sector, Babatunde Lasaki of Eko Disco, Hajiya Wali of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and Ndidi Mbah of the Transmission Company of Nigeria were the nominees. The award went to Mr Lasaki. 

In the distinguished spokesperson hospitality sector, Christoph Schleissing of Lagos Continental Hotel and Niyi Aderibigbe of Transcorp Hotels, were nominated. Ms Aderibigbe emerged winner of the category.

For distinguished spokesperson oil and gas, Chinedu Ukadike of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Igo Weli of Shell Petroleum, and Olufemi Soneye of NNPL were shortlisted. However, Mr Soneye beat other nominees. 

In the most influential corporate voice category, industry giants Air Peace, Dangote, and Julius Berger were nominated but Air Peace clinched the award. Also, UNILORIN was announced as the best coverage share of social media. 

Additionally, for the best corporate spokesperson team category, the nominees were the Conference of PR Professionals in Tertiary Institutions, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Customs Service, with the Nigerian Customs Service carting home the award. 

There was also a category for most supportive CEO to spokespersons (Public Sector), which included Kashifu Inuwa of NITDA, Khalil Halilu of NASENI, and Buba Marwa of NDLEA as nominees, with Mr Inuwa emerging as the winner. Ayodeji Razak of Red Media Africa, Lolu Adebiyi-Akinyemi of Lafarge, and Allen Onyema of Air Peace were among the nominees for the private sector in this category won by Ms Adebiyi-Akinyemi. 

In the concluding event, Olufemi shoneye of NNPCL was announced as spokesperson of year, defeating ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi of the Nigeria Police Force, Olumuyiwa Akande of SIFAX Group and Osagie Omoruyi of NIMASA.