Celebrating a decade of PR excellence as Lagos honours strategic communication leaders
By Martin Ogumah
In a glittering celebration of strategic communication brilliance, the 10th Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LaPRIGA) lit up the MUSON Centre, Onikan, on Friday, December 12, 2025, bringing together the nation’s leading agencies, practitioners, and corporate communicators for what has become the benchmark event for professional recognition in public relations.
LaPRIGA 2025, themed “Nox Excellentia – Night of Excellence,” marked a decade of honouring impactful storytelling, creativity, and professional integrity within Nigeria’s dynamic communications ecosystem. The ceremony, hosted by the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), showcased the breadth of talent across agencies, corporate communication teams, and independent practitioners whose work continues to shape narratives for brands and institutions in Nigeria and beyond.
A Night of Professional Triumphs
L-R: Bolaji Abimbola, Integrated Indigo; and PRCAN Chairperson, Nkechi Ali-Balogun at the event
With over 100 entries across 19 categories evaluated through a rigorous judging process, the 2025 LaPRIGA Awards set new standards for relevance, fairness, and competitive excellence. The awards recognise the most effective, innovative, and strategically executed public relations campaigns, as well as the professionals behind them.
Among the standout winners of the night were Integrated Indigo, Chain Reactions Africa, and Teksight Edge, each securing top honours for their contributions to the practice.
Integrated Indigo emerged as a major winner, securing the Model Agency of the Year title, along with accolades in categories such as Insight-Driven Communication and Sustainability Communication, underscoring its evolving strength in strategic narrative development and purpose-driven PR execution.
Chain Reactions Africa, recognised for its deep strategic insight and executional excellence, claimed honours in categories including Public Sector Campaign of the Year and Best in Entertainment PR, reinforcing its position as one of Nigeria’s most effective communication consultancies. Their work demonstrated how thoughtful storytelling can translate complex narratives into accessible, citizen-centric messages that build trust and public engagement.
Chain Reactions Africa Team showcases awards
TGI Group Tokunbo George with her award
Teksight Edge also recorded impressive success at the gala, taking home three awards in technology, internal communication, and social media innovation – reflecting the growing importance of digital fluency and data-driven engagement in contemporary PR practice. TGI Group led by Tokunbo George secured wins in Community Relations Excellence and PR Trainer of the Year. Other PRCAN members also made their marks at the award night.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the PRCAN, Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, has admonished other agencies to start getting ready to participate in the 2026 edition of the award fiesta. According to her – ”I am aware that some consultants are reluctant to go for these awards, not because they do not have what it takes to win but because they are afraid to make an entry and some have not also taken the trouble to learn how to make these entries. All these must change. We need more consultants in the “winner’s room”. Come 2026, together we would conquer the PR world.”
Celebrating Professional Leadership and Influence
In addition to agency achievements, individual professionals were spotlighted for their impact on the sector. Awards such as Corporate Communication Professional of the Year, Most Influential PR Professional, and Media Excellence (PR Journalist of the Year) highlighted the critical role of strategic thinkers who steer narratives and build trusted connections between organisations and their publics.
The night also honoured lifetime contributors to the profession, recognising veteran communicators whose careers have helped anchor ethical standards and elevated practice across Nigeria’s PR community.
A Decade of Influence and a Call to Growth
Speaking at the event, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, Chairman of NIPR, Lagos Chapter, said that what began as a novel idea has grown into one of the largest and most glamorous Public Relations events in Sub-Sahara Africa. “Ten years on, LaPRIGA stands tall as a testament to what collective passion and professional excellence can achieve. The event marks not just another chapter in their journey, but a significant milestone that speaks to the legacy, vision and commitment of the leaders who build and nurtured the chapter over the years.” Speaking on the event’s theme, Nox Excellentia – Night of Excellence, Ayetutu said, it captures the essence of NIPR profession, saying that “Excellence is the most enduring value that public relations practitioners embody”.
What It Means for the Communications Industry
The 2025 LaPRIGA Awards served not just as a celebration of success, but as a strategic milestone in the nation’s communications narrative. By spotlighting works that drive measurable impact – from public sector engagement to entertainment campaigns and technology-enabled outreach – the awards reaffirm the essential role that public relations plays in building trust, shaping reputation, and supporting national discourse.
As agencies like Integrated Indigo, Chain Reactions Africa, and other winners continue to raise their profiles through award-winning works, and as emerging players like Teksight Edge and TGI demonstrate innovation in digital and AI-assisted engagement, Nigeria’s PR industry stands poised for even greater influence – both locally and on the global communications stage.
Going forward – 2026 and Beyond
Going forward and engaging the industry players to do more, Chido Nwakanma, Chairman of the Selection Committee, said there were 105 entries across 19 award categories which reflected the dedicated effort of practitioners and the increasing prestige of the award.
However, Nwakanma said the committee observed that a surge of entries occurred after the official deadline, exceeding those received during the regular submission period. He cautioned that this pattern of last-minute participation complicates the administrative process.
The committee observes with concern the limited involvement of public relations professionals within the corporate Nigeria and leading agencies. “An overly familiar group of entrants persists, not fully reflecting the diversity of competition within the Lagos State’s PR industry”. He enjoined the broader PR eco-system to join the fold.
He regrets that despite clear criteria, a number of entries were incorrectly categorized. During the night, organisations and outstanding creative works that made impact in the communication industry were recognised.
