The Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has recognised distinguished spokespersons across Nigeria for their outstanding performances at its just concluded 2024 National Spokesperson Awards held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, emerged as the 2024 Distinguished Spokesperson Award in Oil and Gas.
Reuben Muoka of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), bagged the Distinguished Spokesperson in Technology.
While Rt. Hon Eseme Eyiboh The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and official Spokesperson to the President of the Senate won the Most Outstanding Spokesperson Award.
The National Spokespersons’ Awards is the highest honours celebrating Nigeria’s outstanding spokespersons who have demonstrated outstanding eloquence, integrity and effectiveness in their roles as spokespeople.
The event also saw no fewer than 25 other spokespersons from government and private organisations, conferred with different categories of awards.
They are Peter Afunaya of the Department of State Services (DSS), who emerged as the Distinguished Spokesperson in Crisis Management and Brig.- Gen. Tukur Gusau of the Defence Headquarters, who won the Outstanding Military Spokesperson Award.
Others include Hakama Sidi Ali of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), who was awarded Distinguished Spokesperson in Financial Service.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) was awarded the Excellence in Regulatory Compliance, while their Spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, won the overall Spokespersons Award.
Earlier, in his welcome address, President of NIPR, Ike Neliaku, said the award was designed for spokespersons to shine and be acknowledged for their work on a national platform by the institute.
He urged the winners to continue to project their organisations and the country in general in good light, to ensure they achieve the target of the summit’s theme which is “Change Narratives, Change Society.’’
The summit was organised in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited, publishers of Spokespersons Digest.
There were over 25 categories of awards among which were corporate communications, public affairs, politics, media, advocacy, security, financial services, legislature, Judiciary and other domains in Nigeria.
The National Spokespersons Awards was part of the National Spokespersons Summit and was Chaired by Alhaji Idris Malagi, Minister of Information and National Orientation. At the event, the Minister charged image makers in Nigeria to change the narratives and reposition the nation’s reputation positively.