By Joy Omagha Idam
The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has been shortlisted among the top three finalists in the Crisis Communicator category of the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards (NS Awards), further cementing his reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading public communication professionals.
His nomination was conveyed in an official letter dated June 22, 2026, signed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the National Spokespersons Awards, Segun McMedal, informing him of his emergence as one of the finalists following a rigorous evaluation process.
According to the organisers, the National Spokespersons Awards, organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, remains Nigeria’s foremost platform for recognising excellence, professionalism, integrity and outstanding impact in strategic public communication.
The organisers disclosed that the selection process was one of the most competitive since the awards were instituted, with the Chairman of the Jury, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, announcing 42 finalists across 16 categories after the completion of the first and second phases of assessment.
The awards, jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and Spokespersons Digest, celebrate excellence in strategic communication, media relations, public engagement, crisis management, digital communication and reputation management across both the public and private sectors.
According to the jury, an initial assessment screened entries based on eligibility, after which 91 submissions met the required standards of clarity, measurable impact and verifiable evidence. These entries subsequently underwent a more rigorous evaluation using four key benchmarks—impact, innovation and originality, audience reach, and the quality of supporting evidence.
Professor Abdulbaqi noted that the transparent and merit-based assessment process was designed to identify communication professionals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional performance in public communication, stakeholder engagement, crisis response, media relations and strategic reputation management.
Following the exhaustive assessment, Lere Olayinka of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dan Nwomeh of the Enugu State Government, and Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya of Kano State emerged as the three finalists in the highly competitive Crisis Communicator category.
Waiya’s nomination adds to a growing list of recognitions he has received since assuming office as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano State. During his tenure, he has been widely acknowledged for implementing initiatives aimed at strengthening government communication, enhancing public engagement and promoting professionalism in information management.
His contributions to journalism, public relations and strategic communication have also earned him honours from several professional and media organisations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigerian Society of Broadcasters (NSB), the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and other reputable institutions.
The winners of the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards are expected to be unveiled during the award ceremony scheduled for August 2026, where outstanding communication professionals and institutions from across Nigeria will be honoured for their contributions to excellence in public communication.
Source: Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Kano State.