By COLLINS YAKUBU-HAMMER

The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has been named the winner of the Global Public Relations Association of the Year at the World Public Relations and Communication Awards 2025.

The announcement was made in Lisbon, Portugal on Feb.19 following a highly competitive process that attracted 89 entries from 19 countries across the world.

This is contained in a statement issued by Acting Director, Public Relations of NIPR, Mr Duke Imandu, on Friday in Abuja.

According to Imandu, the award, organised by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management recognises NIPR’s outstanding leadership in professional regulation and reputation governance

It also recognised NIPR’s ethical standards enforcement, strategic communication advocacy, and its reform-driven agenda repositioning public relations as a strategic driver of national development.

The statement also stated that, the NIPR Acting President, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, described the recognition as “a defining global endorsement of Nigerian professionalism and excellence in public relations”.

“This is not just a trophy. It is evidence that disciplined reform and institutional courage yield results.

“Nigeria is no longer observing global reputation conversations from the sidelines, we are influencing them,” Dandaura said.

He extolled the NIPR President, Dr Ike Neliaku, for what he described as “purposeful and visionary leadership that has repositioned the Institute for greater national relevance and stronger international visibility”.

Dandaura also congratulated Chain Reactions, a member-agency of NIPR, for emerging Winner in the “Internal Communication Campaign” category, with their ‘Next Era of Happiness: Managing Change and Employee’ entry.

He acknowledged the contributions of past leaders who laid the institutional foundation, current Council Members who have sustained the reforms momentum, and the young professionals across the country who represent the future of strategic communication.

The Global Alliance Awards celebrate excellence in public relations and communication worldwide, recognising innovation, impact, ethics, and professional advancement across industries and regions.

The formal presentation of trophies will take place during the Global Alliance World Public Relations Forum (WPRF) 2026 scheduled to hold from Nov. 15 to Nov. 21 in Abuja, Nigeria. (NAN)