The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, has officially opened nominations for the 5th National Spokespersons Awards (NSA) .

The prestigious awards aim to recognize and celebrate exceptional spokespersons who have demonstrated excellence, transparency, and impactful communication in their respective fields.

To ensure the success of the annual event, NIPR has constituted two key committees: the Award Planning Coordinating Committee and the Adjudication Committee.

The Vice President of NIPR, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, announced the appointment of Segun McMedal, the former Chairman of the Lagos NIPR, as Chairman of the Award Planning Coordinating Committee, and Comptroller Joseph Attah (Ret.) will serve as Vice Chairman. Other members include Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, Saad Shuaib, Ikalone Udo, and Stanley Ogadigo, as Secretary.

The Adjudication Committee will be led by Dr. Shuaibu Husseini, Executive Director/CEO of the National Film and Video Censors Board, with Prof. Anthony Igyuve as Vice Chairman. Other members include Prof. Saudat Abdulbaqi, Hajia Lami Tumaka, Kabir Abdulsalam, Ishola Ayodele, and Abdulrahman Abdulraheem as Member/Secretary.

This year’s edition of the award will feature 22 categories, honouring individuals and teams who have played pivotal roles in shaping narratives, managing reputations, and fostering public trust.

“This year’s edition promises to be the most competitive yet, as we seek to honour the finest communicators who have shaped public perception and trust through strategic communication,” said Segun McMedal, Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

He urged public relations practitioners and communication enthusiasts to submit nominations across various categories, including Outstanding Spokesperson of the Year, Outstanding Government Spokesperson (Federal and State levels), and Outstanding Corporate Spokesperson.

Sector-specific excellence awards will also be presented in Security, Banking, Insurance, Health, Education, Digital Economy, Marine & Blue Economy, Power, Oil & Gas, and Hospitality. Other notable categories include Distinguished Crisis Management Spokespersons (Public and Private Sectors), Most Influential Corporate Voice, Best Corporate Share of Voice (Social Media), Best Corporate Spokesperson Team, and Most Supportive CEO to Spokespersons (Public and Private Sectors).

Nominations will open on February 24, 2025, and close on March 24, 2025. Interested individuals and organizations can submit their nominations via the official NSAwards website: https://nsawards.ng/application or the NIPR website: https://nss.niprng.org.ng/nomination.

The National Spokespersons Awards continues to be a benchmark for excellence in strategic communication, celebrating the vital role spokespersons play in building trust and shaping public discourse across Nigeria.