FIC REPORT (LAGOS STATE) – The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has announced the 2026 Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LaPRIGA), scheduled for Friday, December 11, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
The event will be held under the theme, “Redefining Innovation and Influence.”
Chairman of the Lagos NIPR, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, fnipr, frpa, announced the event at a media briefing, saying the theme reflected changes across public relations, advertising, digital communication, content creation, technology and brand management.
Ayetutu said the increasingly blurred boundaries among the disciplines had made it necessary for communication professionals to reconsider how they create value, build influence and measure results.
He said innovation should be understood not merely as the introduction of something new, but as the intelligent application of new approaches to solve problems and create value.
“Innovation is no longer simply about doing something new. It is about doing something differently, intelligently and meaningfully, in ways that solve problems, create value and deliver measurable impact,” he said.
He also said influence in the current communication environment was increasingly based on credibility, relevance, authenticity and engagement, rather than solely on media budgets or visibility in traditional media.
The Lagos NIPR chairman identified artificial intelligence, data analytics, social listening and automation as technologies reshaping how practitioners research, create, distribute and measure content.
While technology had expanded opportunities for audience engagement, he said it had also increased the professional responsibilities of communication practitioners.
“Technology has given practitioners unprecedented opportunities to reach and engage audiences, but it has also created new responsibilities,” he said, adding that originality, authenticity and professional insight were becoming more valuable as artificial intelligence made it possible to generate content within seconds.
Ayetutu said the principles would guide the 2026 LaPRIGA awards, which would focus on creativity, strategic value and measurable impact rather than visibility or volume of activity alone.
“The question is no longer simply, ‘Can we create content?’ The more important question is, ‘Can we create something original, authentic, insightful and consequential?’” he asked.
New categories introduced
The 2026 edition will feature new and expanded categories intended to reflect the changing nature of public relations and communication practice.
The categories include PR Agency of the Year; Public Service PR Campaign of the Year; Brand PR Campaign of the Year; PR Excellence in Issues and Crisis Management; Best Innovative Technology Deployment in PR; Most Influential PR Professional of the Year; Best Workplace Development PR Initiative; Community Relations Excellence; Sustainability PR and Communication; PR Educator (Tertiary) of the Year; and PR Trainer (Professional Development) of the Year, among others.
Honorary awards will also be presented, including Lagos PR Personality of the Year and the Lifetime PR Contribution Award.
Ayetutu commended the LaPRIGA 2026 Awards Selection Committee, chaired by Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, for reviewing and expanding the categories.
He said the review was intended to make the awards more inclusive and credible while reflecting the diversity of contemporary communication practice.
Chairman of the LaPRIGA 2026 Planning and Fund-Raising Committee, Mr. Tope Akande, said the committee was working to deliver what he described as the best edition of the awards.
Akande said preparations covered event planning, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, guest experience and overall delivery.
He urged communication professionals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support and participate in the initiative, describing LaPRIGA as a platform for recognising the people, ideas and innovations shaping the future of communication.
Ogunyombo said the selection process would focus on the substance and results behind each entry.
He said the expanded categories were designed to recognise excellence across a broader communication ecosystem, with entries assessed on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and measurable impact.
The assessment criteria will include strategy and objectives, creativity and innovation, execution and implementation, as well as impact and measurement.
According to him, the framework will also cover emerging areas such as the use of technology and artificial intelligence in public relations, crisis management, sustainability communication, community relations, workplace communication, professional education and thought leadership.
The organisers said entries would open on Monday, August 31, 2026, and close on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
Eligible entries will cover public relations and marketing communication campaigns, activities and programmes initiated and concluded between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.
The Lagos NIPR invited practitioners, agencies, corporate organisations, government institutions and other eligible stakeholders to submit entries showcasing outstanding work.
The organisers also said LaPRIGA 2026 would provide opportunities for networking and industry engagement, with public relations practitioners, advertising professionals, corporate communicators, journalists, government communication specialists, brand managers, digital communication experts, academics and business leaders expected to attend.
Ayetutu said the significance of the event extended beyond the awards ceremony, arguing that recognising excellence could help strengthen professional standards and encourage innovation.
“Recognition matters. When we recognise excellence, we encourage excellence. When we celebrate innovation, we inspire others to innovate. And when we honour practitioners who create genuine value for their organisations, clients and society, we strengthen the entire profession,” he said.
He called on stakeholders across the communication industry to support the 2026 edition and described it as an opportunity to celebrate professional excellence.
Ayetutu expressed confidence that the event would set a new benchmark for LaPRIGA and reinforce Lagos’ position as a leading centre for professional communication.
Dimaka Chioma
Deputy Director
Information/Public Relations.
30 / 08 / 2026
