PHOTOS: Kwara Gov, Customs, CBN, NNPCL, Press Secretaries, Shine at 2024 National Spokespersons Awards

PHOTOS: Kwara Governor, Customs PRO, CBN, NNPCL, Press Secretaries, Shine at 2024 National Spokespersons Award

The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, emerged as the “Best Spokesperson of the Year” at the 2024 National Spokespersons Award (NSAwards) ceremony held in Abuja last night.

He defeated two other finalists—Funso Aina, the spokesperson of MTN, and Reuben Mouka of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC—to win the award.

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, organised the award program in collaboration with the Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), PRNigeria and Economic Confidential publishers.

The event drew the curtain of the maiden National Spokespersons Summit/Awards held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, Abuja.

Maiwada bagged the award for the second time, consecutively too, after winning it in the 2023 edition of the award event.

Other spokespersons who shone at the event include Hakama Sidi Ali of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, who carted away the “Distinguished Spokesperson in Financial Service” award; Olufemi Soyemi of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, who won the award of “Distinguished Spokesperson in the Oil and Gas Sector” and  Abdulrahman Balogun of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, who was conferred with the “Excellence in International Relations” award.

Adewale Adebajo of the British High Commission, Lagos, who got the “Most Innovative Spokesperson Award Diplomatic/Multinational” award; and the Kwara State Governor, Alh. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who bagged the “Excellence in Corporate Governance” award.

Others are Nigeria Customs Service (Excellence in Regulatory Compliance), Dr. Jossy Nwakocha of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Ltd (Distinguished Spokesperson in Environmental Sustainability), Charles Aniagwu, Commissioner in Delta State (Spokesperson Gold Award – Public Sector (State), Maryam Sanusi of FERMA (Spokesperson Gold Award – Public Sector (Federal), Festus Akande of Supreme Court (Outstanding Spokesperson Award- Judiciary), Eseme Eyibo of The Senate (Outstanding Spokesperson Award- Legislature) and Sanusi Bature of the Kano State Government (Outstanding Spokesperson Award – Executive Arm).

The rest include Dr Peter Afunanya of DSS (Distinguished Spokesperson in Crisis Management), Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau of DHQ (Outstanding Military Spokesperson),  Michael Adande of Shell (Distinguished Spokesperson in Corporate Communication), Rafiu Ajakaye of Kwara State Government (Distinguished Spokesperson in Political Communication); Stanley Olisa of Air Peace (Young Spokesperson of the Year), , Reuben Muoka of the NCC (Distinguished Spokesperson in Technology), and Jonas Agwu of FRSC (Outstanding Security Spokesperson).

In his remarks, Dr. Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Governing Council, congratulated the awardees, urging them to keep on blazing the trail in their professional callings.

According to him, even though about 20 spokespersons bagged various awards at the event, those who cut three of the finalists in the categories of the awards are also deserving winners in their rights.

Neliaku said: “Let me congratulate the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Image Merchants Promotion Limited, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, for organizing this beautiful and colourful event to reward our spokespersons who are carving a niche for themselves by doing excellent jobs for their principals and organisations”.

In his welcome address earlier, Mal. Shuaib explained that the award ceremony was organized to celebrate high-flying Nigerian spokespersons whose brilliant work is helping to redefine the job of public relations, reputation management, and image branding in the country.

“I wish to appreciate the efforts of the Awards Jury Team, who did a fantastic job of assessing and selecting the deserving finalists and eventual winners.”

By PRNigeria

………………..

NATIONAL SPOKESPERSONS AWARDS 2024 WINNERS AND FINALISTS

Distinguished Spokesperson in Financial Service

1. Hakama Sidi Ali, Central Bank of Nigeria (WINNER)
2. Temitope Adarmola, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers
3. Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Kaduna Electric

Distinguished Spokesperson in the Oil and Gas Sector

1. Olufemi Soyemi, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd (WINNER)
2. Michael Adande, Shell Companies in Nigeria
3. Dr. Jossy Jossy Nkwocha, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited

Excellence in International Relations
1. Abdulrahman Balogun, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission – NIDCOM (WINNER)
2. Anthony Akuneme, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
3. Adewale Adebajo, British High Commission Lagos

Most Innovative Spokesperson Award- Diplomatic/ Multinational
1. Adewale Adebajo,British High Comm Lagos (WINNER)
2. Abdulrahman Balogun, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
3. Michael Adande, Shell Companies in Nigeria

Excellence in Corporate Governance
1. Kwara State Governor Kwara State Government House (WINNER)
2. Faithful Avokerie Hope-Ivbaze Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)
3. Kunle Akogun University of Ilorin

Excellence in Regulatory Compliance

1. Nigeria Customs Service (WINNER)
2. Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC)
3. Green Ville LNG

Distinguished Spokesperson in Environmental Sustainability
1. Dr. Jossy Nwakocha of Indorama Eleme Pet. Ltd. (WINNER)
2. Okadike Chijioke Kingsley of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)
3. Sule Pauline of Great Green Wall

Spokesperson Gold Award – Public Sector (State)
1. Charles Aniagwu, Hon Commissioner, Delta State (WINNER)
2. Courage Eboigbe Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) Edo
3. Uba Misili of Gombe State Government House

Spokesperson Gold Award – Public Sector (Federal)

1. Maryam Sanusi FERMA (WINNER)
2. Okadike Chijioke Phd NPA
3. Reuben Muoka NCC

Outstanding Spokesperson Award- Judiciary
1. Festus Akande , Supreme Court (WINNER)
2. Modupe Ogundoro, Federal Ministry of Justice
3. Soji Oye, National Judicial Council

Outstanding Spokesperson Award- Legislature

1. Hon Eseme Eyibo, Office of the Senate President (WINNER)
2. Musa Kirishi, Office of the Speaker, National Assembly
3. Nkem Nwaeke Delta State House of Assembly

Outstanding Spokesperson Award – Executive Arm

1. Sanusi Bature, Kano State Government House (WINNER)
2. Olawale Rasheed, Osun State Government House
3. Abdulrahman Balogun, NIDCOM

Distinguished Spokesperson in Technology

1. Reuben Muoka, NCC (WINNER)
2. Hadiza Umar, NITDA
3. Funso Aina, MTN

Outstanding Security Spokesperson

1. Jonas Agwu, Federal Road Safety Commission (WINNER)
2. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Police
3. Abubakar Umar Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS)

Outstanding Military Spokesperson

1. Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Defence Headquarters (WINNER)
2. AVM Gabwet Edward, Nigerian Airfoece
3. Lt Col Abubakar Abdullahi, Multinational Joint Taskforce

Distinguished Spokesperson in Crisis Management
1. Dr Peter Afunanya, Department of State Security Service (WINNER)
2. Hadiza Umar NITDA
3. SP Ahmed Wakili, Police Command, Bauchi

Distinguished Spokesperson in Corporate Communication
1. Michael Adande, Shell Company of Nigeria (WINNER)
2. Moses Duke George Green Ville LNG
3. Olufemi Soyemi NNPC

Distinguished Spokesperson In Political Communication
1. Rafiu Ajakaye, Kwara State Government House (WINNER)
2. Muktar Gidado, Bauchi State
3. Olawale Rasheed, Osun State

Young Spokesperson of the Year
1. Stanley Olisa, Air peace (WINNER)
2. Ndia Matthew, AITEO group
3. Basheer Luqman Olarewaju, SA to Hon. Muktar Shagaya

Best Spokesperson of the Year

1. Abdullah Maiwada, Nigeria Customs Service (WINNER)
2. Funso Aina, MTN
3. Reuben Muoka, NCC