By Maikudi Muhammad Marafa
The Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has been shortlisted among the three finalists in the Crisis Communicator category of the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards, Nigeria’s foremost recognition platform for excellence in public communication.
The announcement was conveyed in a signed statement by the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the National Spokespersons Awards, Mr. Segun McMedal, informing Comrade Waiya of his emergence as one of the finalists following a rigorous selection process.
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Organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the National Spokespersons Awards celebrate excellence, integrity, innovation, and impact in strategic communication across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
According to the organisers, the Chairman of the Jury, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, announced 42 finalists across 16 award categories after a comprehensive two-stage assessment involving 91 eligible entries. The evaluation focused on measurable impact, innovation, audience reach, and the quality of supporting evidence submitted.
The organisers noted that the jury, comprising academics, public relations practitioners, journalists, and publishers, ensured a transparent and credible selection process to identify communication professionals who have demonstrated exceptional performance in media relations, crisis communication, digital engagement, stakeholder management, and public information.
In the Crisis Communicator category, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya emerged as one of the top three finalists alongside Lere Olayinka of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Dan Nwomeh of the Enugu State Government.
The 2026 National Spokespersons Awards ceremony is scheduled to hold in August 2026, when winners across all categories will be officially announced.
Comrade Waiya’s latest national recognition further adds to the growing list of honours he has received since assuming office as Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs. His contributions to strategic communication, public information management, and media engagement have earned him recognition from several professional bodies and media organisations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigerian Society of Broadcasters (NSB), Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), among others.
