Last weekend before Christmas was a time of celebration for some top marketing communication practitioners as they emerged winners in the highly competed Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards.
The yearly award is designed to celebrate exceptional practitioners, corporate organisations and stakeholders who distinguished themselves in the industry.
The 2020 awards started with nominations by the selection panel appointed by the Executive Council of Lagos State Chapter of NIPR led by its chairman Segun McMedal. The nominations, after verifications, were approved by the council and thrown open for voting by members of the body.
After the long, painstaking and thorough process, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, the CEO of CMC Connect Burson Cohn & Wolfe scored 50.6% to emerge as PR Practitioner of the Year for leading a dynamic organisation with impressive profile, quality clients and campaigns including nurturing talents and inspiring practitioners. Others nominated in that category were John Ehiguese of MediaCraft, Jaiye Opayemi of Chain Reactions, Adekunle Ayeni of BHM and Bolaji Abimbola of Indigo Communications.
CMC Connect also won Best Agency to work award with 39.8 % votes. CMC also won Agency of the Year award with 36.4% votes.
Emeka Oparah of Airtel scored 47.7% votes to win Communications Director of the Year for leading a dynamic team that deepens communications practice and inspiring and nurturing talents over the years. Others nominated in that category were Sade Morgan of Nigerian Breweries, Clem Ugorji of Coca Cola and Ade Adefeko of Olam Nigeria.
With 29.5 % votes, Folake Ani Mumuney of First Bank clinched the award for Corporate Communications Practitioner. She competed against Folashade Ambrose-Medebem of Lafarge; Amaechi Okobi of Access Bank; Bola Atta of UBA and Chioma Nwachukwu of Seplat.
The best brand support Public Relations went to Dufil Prima Food with 48.9% Votes. Access Bank and First Bank were nominated in that category. Best PR training consultancy award went to PR Academy with 46.6% votes while rising PR Practitioner of the Year went to Buchi Johnson of Lilvera agency.
Corporate Social Responsibility award went to Dangote. Other organisations nominated in that category were GTB, Access Bank and Nigerian Breweries. Best company supporting education award went to Promasidor for promoting and sustaining the passion in Mathematics in secondary schools in Nigeria.
Best Innovation in PR Practice (Corporate) award was presented to Airtel Nigeria while Nigerian Breweries received Best Corporate Communications Team (Private Sector) for maintaining an efficient communications team that understands its roles and contributing ideas to solve problems in more efficient and timely manner.
With 50% votes, Lagos State Ministry of Health won the award for Best in crisis management.
The chairman of the selection panel, Muyiwa Akintunde explained that the panel scanned the environment as it is relevant to its focus area for the outgoing year. “We relied on available data and credible sources. We recalled campaigns that delivered impact and resonated well after execution. We identified individuals who recorded exceptional achievements in the marketing communication sub-sector. We considered organisations that recorded outstanding wins. These and other factors led to the panel coming up with a minimum of three nominees in each of the 30 categories that were up for voting”.
