The 6th edition of the National Spokespersons Awards is set to take place, with organisers announcing the jury members and 15 competitive categories for the annual event. The awards, which have earned endorsements from various professional bodies, aim to recognise excellence in strategic communication and spokespersonship. The multi-award-winning Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) has published several publications, including PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, and Spokespersons Digest.
The 15 categories are divided into 10 Professional Excellence Awards and 5 Individual Distinction Awards. The Professional Excellence categories include Knowledge Hub, Corporate Communications, Employee Relations, Public Affairs, Community Relations/CSR, Media Relations, Publication, Crisis Management, Digital Communication, and Communication Agency of the Year. The Individual Distinction categories are Social Media Influencer of the Year, Young Communicator of the Year, Crisis Communicator of the Year, Author/Scholar of the Year, and Spokesperson of the Year.
Entries are open to corporate spokespersons, government information officers, public relations and communication agencies, media and public affairs professionals, scholars, authors, and researchers. The adjudication process will be overseen by a seven-member jury panel chaired by Prof. Saudat AbdulBaqi.
The selection of jury members and categories for the 6th edition of the National Spokespersons Awards is a significant step towards promoting excellence in strategic communication in Nigeria. The awards, which have earned endorsements from various professional bodies, aim to set the benchmark for professionalism, integrity, and innovation within the communication industry. The organisers' commitment to spotlighting outstanding achievements across corporate, public sector, and digital communication spheres is commendable. However, the question remains whether the awards will effectively promote transparency and accountability in the communication industry. The impact of the awards on the lives of everyday Nigerians, particularly in terms of job creation and economic growth, remains to be seen.
