Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has emerged among the three finalists in the Crisis Communicator category of the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards following a rigorous selection process involving 91 entries from across Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Special Duties at the Kano State Ministry of Information and Internal Affairs, Sani Abba Yola, who said the commissioner’s emergence among the finalists underscores the growing national recognition of Kano State’s communication and public engagement efforts.
Waiya’s nomination was conveyed in a letter dated June 22, 2026, signed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the National Spokespersons Awards, Segun McMedal, informing him of his selection as one of the finalists in the Crisis Communicator category.
The National Spokespersons Awards, organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, is regarded as Nigeria’s foremost platform for recognising excellence, integrity and impact in public communication.
According to PRNigeria, the Chairman of the Jury for the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, announced the finalists after the completion of the first and second phases of the assessment exercise which produced 42 finalists across 16 categories in one of the most competitive editions of the awards.
She explained that after an initial eligibility screening, 91 entries met the required standards of clarity of objectives, demonstrable impact and verifiable evidence, including reports, publications and digital links, before advancing to the second stage of evaluation.
Professor Abdulbaqi said the jury assessed shortlisted entries using four major criteria: impact, innovation and originality, reach and the quality of evidence submitted by nominees.
According to her, the process was designed to ensure fairness, transparency and credibility in identifying spokespersons and institutions that demonstrated excellence in public communication, media relations, crisis response, digital engagement and strategic stakeholder management.
Following the rigorous assessment in the Crisis Communicator category, Lere Olayinka of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dan Nwomeh of the Enugu State Government and Comrade Ibrahim Waiya of Kano State emerged as the top three finalists in the country.
The National Spokespersons Awards is jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Spokespersons Digest to celebrate excellence in strategic communication, public engagement and reputation management across both the public and private sectors.
Waiya’s emergence among Nigeria’s leading crisis communicators adds to a growing list of recognitions earned by the Kano Information Commissioner, who is currently in his second year in office.
In recent years, he has received honours from professional and media organisations including the Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Nigerian Society of Broadcasters, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria in recognition of his contributions to the media and information sector.
The winners of the various categories are expected to be unveiled during the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards ceremony scheduled to hold in August.
