The International Public Relations Association (IPRA) has officially endorsed Nigeria’s National Spokespersons Awards (NSAwards). At the same time, the Federal Government and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) have commended the PRNigeria Young Communications Fellowship for equipping graduates with cutting-edge skills in journalism, public relations, and artificial intelligence.

The endorsements and commendations were announced over the weekend during the fellowship’s closing ceremony at the PRNigeria Centre in Abuja.

In his welcome address, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, CEO of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), revealed that IPRA, in a correspondence by its Secretary General, Philip Sheppard, had granted the NSAwards Conference Status. This designation provides global recognition for the annual event, which celebrates organisations and individuals who demonstrate excellence in public communication through creativity and innovation.

Both the NSAwards and the PRNigeria Fellowship are organised annually by IMPR, publisher of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential. The firm has established itself as a leading strategic communication agency, ranking as the Most Creative PR Agency Worldwide in 2020 and winning multiple SABRE Africa and IPRA Golden World Awards.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Malam Mohammed Idris Malagi, represented by the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mallam Ali M. Ali, praised IMPR’s commitment to strategic communication and developing the next generation of communication professionals through the fellowship programme.

“We are not surprised that IMPR is one of the most outstanding strategic communication outfits that adhere to the ethics of the profession through its platforms, initiatives, including the annual fellowship for young Nigerians.

“In fact, this capacity-building initiative offers not only an opportunity to mentor, train, and empower young graduates, but also provides a rich reservoir of future talents who will nourish our industry,” Ali said.

The Minister's representative cautioned fellows to remain discerning in an environment “rife with fake news,” particularly given the prevalence of AI-generated content.

NUJ President Comrade Alhassan Adamu Yahya pledged the Union’s support for IMPR’s initiatives, including the fellowship and the National Spokespersons Awards. He urged fellows to prioritise national security and ethical standards in their work.

Ja’afar Ja’afar, CEO of Daily Nigerian, warned the young graduates about the emerging threat of deepfakes and AI manipulation. He emphasised that professional contacts “make the journalist and journalism,” and advised investigative journalists to use the Freedom of Information Act responsibly, focusing on accountability rather than humiliation.

The fellowship Is hosted annually at PRNigeria Centres in Abuja, Kano, and Ilorin. At the Abuja ceremony, Humaid Rabiu Shehu and Oyeyemi Abolade were recognised as Team Leader and Best Fellow, respectively, of the 2025 Abuja cohort.

The IMPR Is also the host of annual Security and Emergency Management Awards (SAEMA), Arewa Stars Awards (ASA), Spokespersons Communication Awards (SCA) and the Economic Confidential Lecture. (By PRNigeria)