2026 National Spokespersons Award:Waiya Makes Final List Of Best Crisis Communicators In Nigeria
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Kano State Commissioner of Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has been named among the three finalists for the crisis communicator category of the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards.
A statement by the Director, Special Duties
Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs,
Sani Abba Yola, said the emergence of Comrade Waiya among finalists in Crisis Communication in Nigeria was conveyed in a letter dated June 22nd, 2026 signed by Segun Mcmedal, Chairman planning committee National Spokespersons Awards.
The letter reads in part: “I m pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a finalist in the Crisis Communicator category of the National Spokespersons Awards (NS Awards).”
The NS Awards which is organized by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMAR) publishers of PR Nigeria and Spokespersons Digest, is Nigeria’s premier platform recognising excellence, integrity and impact in public communication, the statement said.
It said that PR Nigeria reported that the Chairman, Jury for the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards (NS Awards) Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi announced the finalists at the completion of the first and second phases of the Jury’s assessment which produced 42 finalists across 16 categories in what organisers described as one of the most competitive editions since the awards were established.
According to PR Nigeria, the National Awards, is Nigeria’s premier platform dedicated to celebrating excellence in strategic communication, public engagement and reputation management across public and private sectors.
It is Jointly organized by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Spokespersons Digest with a view to honoring outstanding individuals and corporate communication teams.
“The Jury comprises academics, PR practitioners, journalists, and publishers on the selection exercise.The finalists represent some of the most outstanding communication professionals and institutions in Nigeria, reflecting the growing sophistication of the country’s communication ecosystem.
“The 2026 National Spokesperson Awards ceremony scheduled to take place in August 2026 will feature the eventual unveiling of winners of the prestigious awards for the various categories,” the statement said further.
Commenting on the process for the selection of the finalists, the Chairman, Panel of Jury said after an initial eligibility screening, 91 entries met the required standards—clarity of objectives, demonstrable impact, and verifiable evidence such as reports, publications, and digital links.
These were then subjected to a more intensive second stage evaluation.
According to her, the Jury assessed all shortlisted entries using four core criteria: impact, innovation and originality, reach, and the quality of evidence submitted. She emphasised that the process was designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and credibility in identifying spokespersons and institutions that demonstrated excellence in public communication, media relations, crisis response, digital engagement, and strategic stakeholder management.
“After the rigorous assessment and screening of the many entries in the Crisis Communicator category, Lere Olayinka of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dan Nwomeh of the Enugu State Government, and Comrade Ibrahim Waiya of Kano State eventually emerged top three finalists.
“The choice of Comrade Waiya among best communicators by the organisers of the National Spokespersons Awards add to the list of numerous awards and recognition received by Kano Information Commissioner who is in his second year at the Ministry.
“In recognition of his contribution to the media and information sector especially through numerous initiatives, Comrade Waiya has received Awards by professional and media related organisations like the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Society of Broadcasters (NSB), Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and many others,” the statement added.