The Nigerian Marketing communications industry shone at the just concluded 2024 SABRE Africa Awards as Chain Reactions Africa clinched seven impressive award categories. The award was held after the annual African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The categories won by the public relations and integrated marketing communications firm include CEO of the Year, Public Affairs, & Public Sector/Government, for the Lagos Blue Rail campaign for LAMATA. It also received two awards, ‘Superior Achievement in Reputation Management’ and ‘Special Event/Sponsorship’, for its ‘The Hack—Expand Your Hustle’ campaign for 9mobile.
Also, at the awards, the newly elected President of APRA, Arik Karani, specially recognised and presented certificates of Excellence to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs, CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, for their exemplary leadership qualities.
Razor/M&C Saatchi Group of South Africa was announced by Arun Sudhaman, CEO and Editor-in-Chief at PRovoke Media, as the winner of five categories.
BCW (Mauritius & Kenya), Clockwork (South Africa), and Ogilvy (South Africa) bagged three awards respectively; Newmark Group (Kenya), Blanche Aigle Communications (Nigeria), Tribeca Public Relations (South Africa), and WE Communications received two awards each.
Speaking while receiving the awards, Chain Reactions Managing Director, Israel Jaiye Opayemi attributed the agency’s success to hard work. Opayemi, President of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), thanked clients for their trust and the staff for dedication, professionalism and creativity.
On his part, Yushau Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited, PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest publisher, said since the inception of SABRE Africa in 2017, Chain Reaction’s record-breaking achievement underscores the rapid growth of the PR industry in Africa, bolstered by technological advancements.
At the end of the conference, APRA announced the election of Arik Karani from Kenya as its new President, Dr. Michele Mekeme from Cameroon as Vice President, and Omoniyi Ibietan from Nigeria as Secretary-General.
Karani presented Certificates of Excellence to Nigeria Customs Comptroller General, CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, for exemplary leadership qualities.