The Senior Technical Assistant to Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Print and Digital Communications, Abdurrahman Bundi, has emerged winner of the Digital Communication category at the 2026 National Spokespersons Awards, joining 14 other individuals and institutions honoured for excellence in public communication.
Bundi received the award at the sixth edition of the National Spokespersons Awards, held alongside the fourth Economic Confidential Lecture at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday.
The recognition places the Borno governor’s communications aide among a select group of professionals and institutions acknowledged for demonstrating impact, innovation and effective engagement in an increasingly digital public-information environment.
Other major recipients included the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya; Director of Corporate Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria, Hakama Sidi-Ali; Nigerian Customs Service; and Federal Road Safety Corps.
The awards ceremony, chaired by the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, brought together senior government officials, communication professionals and media practitioners.
Chairman of the awards jury, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, disclosed that the 2026 edition attracted 171 nominations, reflecting what she described as the growing interest in professional public communication and strategic reputation management.
She said 99 entries successfully passed the initial eligibility screening before undergoing a second stage of intensive evaluation.
The process eventually produced 42 candidates, from whom 30 finalists emerged across 15 award categories.
Abdulbaqi said a seven-member jury assessed the shortlisted entries against four principal benchmarks: impact, innovation and originality, reach, and quality of evidence.
The rigorous selection process, she said, was designed to ensure that recognition was based on demonstrable professional performance rather than popularity or institutional influence.
The National Spokespersons Awards were organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons Digest.
In his address, IMPR Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Yusha’u Shuaib, said the awards and the Annual Economic Confidential Lecture were established to encourage informed national discourse, reward excellence and raise the standard of professional communication in Nigeria.
He stressed the importance of effective communication in public administration, particularly at a time when governments and institutions must increasingly communicate policies and respond to citizens across rapidly evolving traditional and digital platforms.
The recognition of Bundi in the Digital Communication category highlights the growing importance of digital platforms in government communication and public engagement.
The ceremony attracted prominent figures from Nigeria’s information, public relations, government and security communication sectors.
Among those present was the Director-General of Voice of Nigeria, Jibrin Baba Ndace, who represented the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.
Also in attendance were former Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd.), Professor Sule Ya’u Sule, and other senior communication and public relations professionals.
The organisers said the awards were intended not merely to celebrate individual achievements but also to encourage a culture of evidence-based, innovative and responsible communication across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.
Bundi’s award therefore adds to the growing recognition of strategic communication as an essential component of modern governance, particularly in an era where the speed, reach and influence of digital information can significantly shape public understanding of government policies and programmes.
