Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Actress and filmmaker Biodun Stephen has explained why she opposes public announcements of cinema earnings urging her colleagues to stop publicising how much their movies make at the box office.

Stephen said the practice puts unnecessary pressure on other filmmakers and narrows the industry’s definition of success.

The filmmaker made the call during an appearance on the Paul and Baaj: In Character podcast where she argued that box office announcements distract filmmakers from focusing on quality and impact.

‘I think that we really should do away with the announcements’ she said.

‘I feel like this is a distraction and it puts pressure on those other people who feel as if that is the determinant and that’s how you determine my success’ she added.

According to her when filmmakers constantly announce huge figures colleagues whose films make less begin to feel like failures even when their work has artistic value.

She went on to liken the situation to the trend of people rushing into a business because they see others succeeding at it.

‘Somebody starts selling slippers and people are rushing to buy slippers the next one is going to sell slippers because they think that slippers sell meanwhile they don’t understand what you have put in to ensure the slipper sells’ she said.

Stephen also questioned the rush among actors and filmmakers to chase international recognition before establishing themselves at home.

‘It’s great to hunger for more but I always say have you even conquered Nigeria that you can stand and say that if I go to Kano they know me as an actor?’ she queried.

She maintained that box office earnings alone do not determine a film’s quality longevity or global potential noting that a film can make huge money at the cinema without necessarily being great. In contrast a well-made film with export potential may earn less.

‘The film go tough but it can be a lot of crap and then the film that is really good that can travel that has export value can do 40 million… the only yardstick for measuring success is this very shallow number.’

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has vowed to sign the death warrants of four people convicted of kidnapping.

The four convicts Marvellous Isaac aged 32 Wisdom Michael aged 36 Rufus Emete Michael aged 30 and Gift Raphael aged 27 were sentenced to death on September 30th by an Edo State Special Court.

They were convicted after abducting one Precious in broad daylight at the Vegetable Market along Airport Road Benin City.

Governor Okpebholo said he would sign the death warrant if the convicts failed to appeal their sentence within the stipulated 30 days.

Okpebholo who spoke at God’s People Worldwide Prayer Ministry said insecurity was one of his biggest worries when he assumed office.

The Edo Governor stated that he raised the state of the roads and the security situation with President Bola Tinubu during a meeting.

He said he called President Tinubu when the gunmen struck and told him he could handle the situation.

Okpebholo stated that he prayed for the kidnappers to be caught within 24 hours before calling the Commissioner of Police to demand their arrest.

‘I told him I wanted these guys arrested because I already have approval from God and they were caught within that time.

‘They are already sentenced to death and I pray they don’t appeal the judgment. Even if they do they are only delaying time. If within 30 days they don’t appeal I will execute’ he said.

Governor Okpebholo said he met prominent traditional rulers across the state to warn them against interceding for anyone involved in crimes before he began the campaign against kidnapping and cultism.

Recalling several strange encounters linked to spiritual forces after his administration pulled down a building associated with a cult group the Edo Governor said a black bird died in his office and a vulture also died in his bed while he was contesting for governorship.

Founder of God’s People Worldwide Prayer Ministry Apostle Ehijele Umuahia urged church members to vote for the governor and his preferred candidates in the 2027 elections.

Filmmaker Biodun Stephen said her approach to filmmaking is driven by purpose not the pursuit of box office records viewership numbers or awards.

Stephen spoke on the Paul and Baaj: In Character podcast where she shared her thoughts on success pressure in the film industry and what truly fulfils her as a filmmaker.

The director who earlier urged colleagues to stop announcing cinema earnings said her motivation goes beyond commercial success.

She said she focuses more on telling impactful stories that resonate with people than on topping box office charts.

‘I’m doing it because I am living a life of purpose; I’m not chasing the numbers I’m not chasing the audience’ she said.

Stephen stressed that the emotional connection viewers have with her work means more to her than any award or record-breaking figure.

She said the biggest reward is when people reach out to her after watching her films.

‘When people call me to pray… and cry and say thank you so much Jesus my work is done no award’ she said.

The filmmaker noted that Nollywood has become overly fixated on numbers with filmmakers and fans often using cinema earnings to determine a film’s quality or a filmmaker’s success.

She argued that this mindset puts undue pressure on creatives and distracts from the core of storytelling.

For Stephen success is measured by the lives her stories touch and the conversations they spark not by how much a film grosses at the cinema or how many awards it wins.

The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt Rivers State yesterday dismissed an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for leave to challenge an appellate judgment at the Supreme Court in its legal battle with prominent businesswoman Aisha Achimugu.

The prolonged confrontation with the anti-graft agency involved investigations asset seizures the freezing of corporate and personal bank accounts and several court proceedings.

The appellate court held that the commission had failed to establish sufficient grounds to justify granting the permission sought.

The court declared that the commission’s motion for leave to appeal its earlier judgment to the Supreme Court ‘lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.’

The decision leaves undisturbed for now the substantive judgment delivered by the same appellate court on July 22 which discharged an interim order freezing bank accounts linked to Achimugu and corporate entities associated with her.

It also constitutes a fresh procedural setback for the EFCC in its efforts to sustain the restrictions earlier imposed on the businesswoman’s financial operations.

The earlier Court of Appeal judgment had raised fundamental questions about the manner in which investigating agencies deploy interim freezing orders and the limits of their statutory powers in relation to private individuals and corporate organisations.

In that judgment a three-member panel comprising Justices Muhammad Ibrahim Sirajo Ishaq Mohammed Sani and Eleojo Enenche unanimously vacated the freezing order initially granted by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on April 10 2025.

The court held that allowing an interim ex parte freezing order to remain in force for more than 15 months amounted to an abuse of court process and a subversion of the rule of law.

The appellate court reasoned that such orders were intended as temporary measures to preserve disputed funds pending the hearing and determination of substantive applications rather than indefinite instruments for restricting access to bank accounts.

The judgment followed a legal dispute arising from an application by the EFCC before Justice Turaki Adamu of the Federal High Court Port Harcourt seeking to freeze the accounts linked to Achimugu and companies associated with her.

The application was granted on April 10 2025 with affected banks directed to prevent outward transactions on the accounts.

Achimugu subsequently challenged the order arguing that the continued restrictions constituted an abuse of judicial process.

The dispute took another dimension when the businesswoman raised concerns over the movement of N1.8 billion from a SunTrust Bank account to a Central Bank of Nigeria/EFCC recovery account while the freezing order remained in force.

In a ruling on August 27 2025 Justice Adamu held that the transfer was unlawful and directed its reversal.

Dissatisfied the EFCC approached the Court of Appeal questioning among other issues the jurisdiction of the trial court to deliver its ruling during the judicial vacation an alleged denial of fair hearing and the evaluation of evidence relating to the bank accounts.

In its July 22 judgment the Court of Appeal rejected the commission’s arguments concerning jurisdiction and fair hearing holding that the delivery of a reserved ruling during judicial vacation did not invalidate the proceedings.

The appellate court however agreed with the EFCC on the separate issue involving the ?1.8 billion transfer finding that the evidence before the lower court did not sufficiently establish that the money originated from an account covered by the April 10 freezing order.

Consequently it set aside the order directing the reversal of the ?1.8 billion while expressly clarifying that its decision did not validate the legality of the EFCC directive transferring the funds.

Notwithstanding that limited finding in favour of the commission the appellate court discharged the freezing order in its entirety ruling that the prolonged restriction could no longer be justified as an interim measure.

The court’s conclusion was unequivocal: the ex parte order restricting the accounts of Achimugu and the affected corporate entities was discharged and vacated.

Yesterday’s refusal to grant the EFCC leave to challenge that judgment at the Supreme Court has now reinforced Achimugu’s position in the particular dispute over her accounts.

Although the refusal of leave does not by itself constitute a fresh determination of the underlying financial allegations it means the commission has failed in the application placed before the Court of Appeal to secure permission for a further challenge.

For Achimugu the decision is an important development in a legal battle she has consistently maintained was characterised by excessive enforcement measures and disregard for her constitutional rights.

The founder of Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Limited and Group Managing Director of Felak Concept Group has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and questioned the commission’s handling of investigations into her business activities.

In a public statement in July she accused the EFCC of subjecting her to intimidation reputational damage and prolonged disruption of her legitimate business interests.

She maintained that investigations and enforcement measures against her had adversely affected substantial investments business relationships and the operations of companies built over several years.

The businesswoman also raised concerns about what she considered a sustained trial by media insisting that allegations against any individual must be established through proper judicial processes rather than public accusations.

The EFCC on its part has maintained that its investigations and asset-recovery proceedings fall within its statutory mandate to combat financial crimes and recover proceeds of unlawful activities.

The wider dispute has also produced other court decisions including separate forfeiture proceedings relating to assets linked to Achimugu.

On July 16 2026 an FCT High Court ordered the final forfeiture of assets valued at approximately ?8.9 billion including jewellery vehicles and cash following an application by the commission.

On October 12 a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a separate N10 billion fundamental rights action brought by Achimugu over the search of her residence and seizure of personal belongings.

Those proceedings are distinct from the Port Harcourt bank-account dispute and were not overturned by yesterday’s ruling.

Nevertheless the latest decision brings renewed attention to the balance between the powers of anti-corruption agencies and the constitutional protections available to citizens and businesses.

While the EFCC possesses extensive statutory authority to investigate financial transactions and seek judicial orders for the preservation of suspected proceeds of unlawful activities the exercise of those powers remains subject to judicial supervision and procedural safeguards.

The significance of the July judgment which yesterday’s decision leaves undisturbed lies principally in the court’s insistence that an interim order cannot be permitted to operate indefinitely merely because an investigation remains ongoing.

That position is especially relevant in a commercial environment where access to banking facilities is essential to the survival of businesses the discharge of contractual obligations and the preservation of legitimate investments.

For Achimugu the judgment offers a measure of relief in one of the most consequential aspects of her confrontation with the EFCC even as other legal disputes between the parties remain separate questions for the courts.

For the anti-graft agency the decision underscores the importance of ensuring that investigative measures however necessary remain consistent with the requirements of due process and the limits imposed by law.

Yesterday’s ruling does not determine Achimugu’s innocence or guilt in relation to allegations under investigation.

What it establishes is that the EFCC’s latest application to take the earlier appellate judgment to the Supreme Court has failed which is a significant legal development for Achimugu.

Three more states – Kaduna Bayelsa and Benue – have approved the proposed sixth alteration to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services and Other Related Matters.

The development brought the number of Houses of Assembly that have endorsed the State Police Bill to about 20.

The Kaduna State House of Assembly unanimously endorsed proposed amendments to 15 sections of the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the establishment of state police.

The Chairman House Committee on Information Henry Marah announced this while addressing reporters on the Assembly’s proceedings in Kaduna.

Marah who represents Jaba State Constituency said the Assembly supported the proposal transmitted by the National Assembly for concurrence.

He said the proposed state police system would strengthen community security improve protection of lives and property and create employment opportunities for youths.

According to him the current security structure limits state governments’ ability to directly hold police authorities accountable for security failures.

Marah said the proposed system would provide a legal framework for community-based security initiatives and strengthen local responses to banditry and other crimes.

The committee chairman said the Assembly would formulate appropriate laws to guide the operations and welfare of state police personnel when the proposal takes effect.

He assured that funding would be prioritised even if the state had to reduce spending on other projects.

‘Without security you cannot even go to the farm or go to work’ he said stressing that protecting human lives should take precedence over infrastructure development.

The lawmaker urged residents to support the proposed state police system saying improved security would enable farmers to return to their farms and harvest their produce without fear of kidnapping.

The Bayelsa House of Assembly yesterday approved the proposed sixth alteration to the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of state police services and other related matters.

The approval followed the transmission of the constitutional amendment bill by the National Assembly to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration and endorsement.

Deputy Speaker Michael Ogbere who presided over plenary hailed fellow lawmakers for their commitment to legislative duties.

The Assembly considered the proposal during plenary in the Committee of the Whole before voting in favour of the amendment.

Ogbere stressed the importance of the Assembly’s participation in addressing the nation’s security challenges.

In Benue State the House of Assembly adopted the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill 2026 providing for the establishment of State Police in the country.

The Assembly took the decision on Tuesday at plenary presided over by Speaker Berger Alfred Emberga.

Majority Leader Peter Bemdoo Ipusu presented the Bill for debate urging members to give it accelerated consideration within the stipulated timeframe.

Leading the debate Ipusu said state policing would improve grassroots intelligence gathering ensure quicker response to security emergencies and enhance law enforcement through officers familiar with their communities.

According to him it will help address peculiar security threats such as rural banditry farmer-herder conflicts and urban crime while allowing the Nigeria Police Force to focus on national security and major crimes.

The Majority Leader added that the arrangement would also generate employment and strengthen accountability by bringing security administration closer to the people.

Speaker Emberga directed the Clerk of the Assembly to transmit the resolution to the National Assembly.

There will be no restriction on large gatherings because of the Ebola case in Abuja the Federal Government declared yesterday.

It added that should there be need as might be recommended by experts the decision could be reviewed.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Mohammed Ali Pate said: ‘At this moment there is no indication that requires us to alter the course of large gatherings that have been planned.’

The minister assured Nigerians that there was no evidence of community transmission.

Health authorities have intensified contact tracing for 44 people and surveillance and infection prevention measures.

The Aviation ministry has put 46 people on a no-fly list.

The Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) urged Federal and state governments to activate emergency operations centres and isolation facilities nationwide.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also called for stronger preventive measures against Ebola and other infectious diseases.

The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation directed government media agencies to intensify public education.

Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Dr Jean Kaseya said the index patient described as a diplomat was born in Uganda and arrived in Abuja with her husband on October 3 on a flight via Kampala the Ugandan capital.

He called for further information from the patient to establish her travel history and possible exposure to the virus.

Prof. Pate gave the government’s assurances at a briefing in Abuja.

He said the emergency response system had been activated and the case was diagnosed confirmed and reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) within 24 hours of the authorities being notified.

Pate said laboratory results showed significant improvement in the patient’s condition but cautioned that Nigerians should continue to pray and work towards her recovery.

‘We have to continue to pray and work hard to ensure that she survives it’ he said.

According to the minister the patient was asymptomatic when she arrived in Nigeria but developed symptoms a few days later.

He said following confirmation of the infection through three positive tests health authorities began tracing people who had contact with her at the hospital a private clinic she visited and among her domestic contacts.

Contacts have been categorised according to their level of exposure with high-risk individuals placed in quarantine and others isolated in line with public health guidelines.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) is coordinating the response with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare the Federal Capital Territory Administration and state governments.

Pate said the government had briefed the Presidential Task Force the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the National Economic Council (NEC) while releasing additional resources to support containment efforts.

‘All our state governments have been informed. Most of the states already have response plans which were developed with the guidance of the NCDC’ he said.

He added that states yet to complete their plans had been directed to do so urgently.

Pate said the government is also strengthening laboratory capacity to sequence the virus and establish more information about it with support from genomics expert Prof. Christian Happi of Redeemer’s University and international health partners.

According to the minister health facilities have been directed to prepare isolation beds and reinforce infection prevention measures particularly to protect frontline workers.

Pate urged private healthcare providers to report suspected cases promptly.

He stressed that Ebola was not airborne but spread through contact with the bodily fluids of infected people.

The minister urged Nigerians to wash their hands regularly avoid contact with bodily fluids and promptly report suspected symptoms.

Anyone experiencing fever headache or muscle aches particularly with a relevant travel history should isolate themselves and notify public health authorities Pate advised.

He also warned against misinformation and politicisation of the outbreak saying public health concerns transcended political ethnic and religious differences.

‘The alternative to trusting the experts is tragedy. It’s really tragedy’ he said.

Africa CDC seeks patient’s travel details

Kaseya said the Africa CDC was in discussions with Nigerian Ugandan and Democratic Republic of Congo authorities to coordinate the response.

He said the patient needed to disclose whether she had travelled to the DRC left Kampala or had contact with anyone arriving from the DRC.

‘This is the information we are looking for. It will help all of us to avoid crisis between African countries’ he said in an interview on a Channels Television programme.

Kaseya described Africa as better prepared to respond to public health emergencies but warned against treating Ebola as a problem exclusive to the continent.

Information ministry Anambra intensify awareness

Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris directed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Voice of Nigeria (VON) and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to scale up public enlightenment.

He asked the agencies to work with the NCDC and the health ministry to disseminate verified information while the NOA was directed to mobilise grassroots personnel to work with traditional rulers religious leaders and community groups.

The ministry is also partnering with the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria to air public service announcements and produce information materials in major Nigerian languages.

Idris urged Nigerians to avoid spreading unverified information and report suspected cases through the NCDC’s 24-hour toll-free hotline 6232.

In Anambra State the government deployed nurses to Chinua Achebe International and Cargo Airport and activated emergency hotlines as part of efforts to strengthen surveillance.

Commissioner for Health Dr Afam Obidike gave the numbers as 08038818131 and 08039595988 urging residents to report suspected cases promptly.

He said the state was working with the WHO UNICEF Médecins Sans Frontières and other partners to improve early detection surveillance and response. The state had also intensified monitoring at entry points and boundary communities and was providing refresher training for healthcare workers.

Obidike warned against unproven preventive practices including drinking or bathing with salt water saying they could not prevent Ebola infection.

APC dismisses claims over N10b emergency fund

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) faulted former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate over his comments on the N10 billion Ebola emergency fund and the government’s response.

The council’s spokesman Dele Alake said the N10 billion emergency intervention approved by Tinubu in June remained untouched because the NCDC Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies involved in surveillance had been using other available resources.

The government has urged Nigerians to remain calm but vigilant as investigations contact tracing and surveillance continue.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the request by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for permission to play part of the footage of the closed-circuit television (CCTV) recording of an incident in its facility where former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is being held.

The ICPC said it would play the video recording during the hearing in a N10 billion rights enforcement suit the ex-governor filed against the anti-graft agency.

El-Rufai listed the ICPC its Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as respondents in the suit in which he is claiming among others that the respondents violated his rights by allegedly preventing him from having access to his wife Aichatou Asabe and son Abba El-Rufai while in custody.

In a ruling yesterday Justice Chigozie Onah agreed with the ICPC that it was reasonable to play part of the over six-hour recording in the court as against El-Rufai’s request that the entire recording be played.

Justice Onah granted the parties 20 minutes each to have any part of the recording played in open court stating that the court could not be turned into a viewing centre.

The judge said the court lacked the luxury of time to see the entire recording.

Justice Onah upheld the submission by ICPC’s lawyer Yetunde Mosunmola that the video recording contains some sensitive information that could expose her client’s facility to a security breach if the full recording was played in open court.

The judge added that if such a video must be played in full it has to be in his office.

Justice Onah refused El-Rufai’s request for an order for two ICPC officials who deposed to an affidavit to be produced in court for cross-examination.

He said: ‘Both parties only have 20 minutes each to play part of the footage at 1 p.m. in open court’ when most lawyers and litigants would have left the court.

Justice Onah adjourned till 1 p.m. on November 3 for the definite hearing of the main suit.

The Yobe State House of Assembly has approved the proposed establishment of a State Police Service along with 25 other constitutional amendment bills transmitted by the National Assembly for state legislatures’ consideration.

The approval followed deliberations yesterday by lawmakers during plenary on 26 proposed alterations to the 1999 Constitution marking the assembly’s position on proposed changes to various provisions of the nation’s supreme law.

Speaking on the resolutions the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Chiroma Buba Mashio said the bills were forwarded to state legislatures to consider and vote on the proposed amendments in accordance with constitutional requirements.

Mashio explained that the proposed establishment of a State Police Service was intended to provide a constitutional framework for states to operate their own police services alongside the existing Nigeria Police Force.

He described the proposal as a significant component of ongoing national discussions on security sector reform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to address emerging security challenges.

The Speaker noted that the proposed constitutional alterations were part of a broader legislative process requiring state assemblies to consider and approve the amendments in line with the provisions governing constitutional alteration.

Under the constitutional amendment process proposed changes must secure the approval of at least two-thirds of all state Houses of Assembly before they can be validly enacted.

The Yobe Assembly’s approval of the State Police proposal signals the legislature’s support for the proposed constitutional framework which seeks to decentralise policing by allowing states to establish their own police services.

The proposal has featured prominently in national conversations on security reforms particularly amid calls for a policing structure that can respond more effectively to local security concerns while complementing the existing federal policing system.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commissioned Anchorage Pharmaceutical Industries Limited a multi-billion naira pharmaceutical company in Trans-Ekulu Enugu.

The company’s launch is expected to boost local drug manufacturing create jobs and strengthen healthcare delivery in the country.

This was even as the Chairman of the company’s Board of Directors Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Rtd) commended Mbah for creating an investment-friendly environment in the state describing Anchorage as a legacy project conceived to generate employment develop local talent and contribute to economic development.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Thursday Mbah said the facility represented more than a pharmaceutical business describing it as an investment in public health economic growth and the future of young people in the state.

The governor congratulated the company’s founder board and management noting that establishing a manufacturing enterprise required substantial commitment and confidence in the state’s economic prospects.

He said the facility would create jobs offer internship placements and facilitate skills transfer while supporting healthcare delivery across Enugu State.

Mbah disclosed that the government would explore commercial partnerships with the company to supply medicines to its central medical stores and primary healthcare facilities.

The governor further noted that the state was building 260 Type-2 primary healthcare centres adding that the facilities would require reliable supplies of essential medicines to function effectively.

‘We are interested in made-in-Enugu and that’s what you’re doing here’ he said reaffirming the administration’s commitment to partnering with private enterprises beyond providing an enabling environment.

Mbah added that private capital remained central to the state’s economic growth strategy emphasising the need to retain skilled young people by creating opportunities for them to build their careers in Enugu.

Earlier Madueke said Anchorage was the practical expression of his longstanding conviction that private enterprise could create jobs broaden economic opportunities and improve prosperity.

The former Chief of the Naval Staff as well as ex-military governor of old Anambra and Imo States said the company would prioritise product quality patient safety regulatory compliance and sound corporate governance while acknowledging the role of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in safeguarding public health.

Madueke expressed confidence that Anchorage would contribute to the development of Enugu State the South-East and Nigeria while thanking Mbah for commissioning the facility and building a resilient business-friendly infrastructure.

In his closing remarks the company’s Managing Director Engr. Chima Madueke said the company was founded on quality and wellness encapsulated in its slogan ‘Anchored in Quality Committed to Wellness.’

He said the company had obtained the necessary approvals and clearances from NAFDAC and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) reaffirming its commitment to quality assurance.

He added that Anchorage would help tackle fake and substandard medicines in Nigeria and said it was open to direct supplies to hospitals healthcare institutions and pharmacies.

Meanwhile the commissioning underscores the growing role of private-sector investment in the Mbah administration’s drive to expand Enugu’s economic base with the governor assuring investors of continued government support to improve the business environment and enhance returns on investment.

The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (PYCF)-a flagship initiative of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR)-won the Industry Impact Award at the Nigeria Digital Public Relations Awards while IMPR’s MD/CEO Yushau A. Shuaib was honoured as a Digital Communications Ambassador Class of 2026.

The dual honours were announced at a gala marking the close of the 11th Nigeria Digital Public Relations Summit in Lagos themed ‘The Rise of Digital Influence: Culture Creators and the New PR Playbook.’

Organised by Upticomm Marketing Company the summit convener Segun McMedal said the awards and ambassadorial recognitions were created to close gaps in Nigeria’s digital communication ecosystem and to promote professionalism innovation and responsible use of digital platforms.

The Industry Impact Award celebrates the PYCF for nurturing emerging professionals in journalism public relations fact-checking strategic communication and digital media. The organiser noted that the fellowship stands out for its emphasis on practical training professional ethics and technological innovation.

Mr. Shuaib was among 50 Digital Communications Ambassadors unveiled during the ceremony for his contributions to digital public relations crisis communication media innovation and professional capacity-building through PRNigeria Economic Confidential and other specialised platforms operated by IMPR.

Shuaib’s recognition adds to the firm’s portfolio of national and international prizes including multiple SABRE Africa Awards and IPRA Golden World Awards. In 2020 IMPR was ranked the world’s most creative public relations agency in PRovoke Media’s Global Creative Index.

In 2026 IMPR secured the IPRA Grand Prix in Athens Greece for its AI-driven crisis communication campaign ‘From Study to Strategy’ executed in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).

Since its establishment in 2024 the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship has trained 90 young communicators across three editions. Participants are selected through a competitive national application process and trained at PRNigeria Centres in Abuja Kano and Ilorin.

The programme has attracted endorsements from major professional bodies including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and CCC.

Each year the fellowship admits 30 fellows across the three centres. Its curriculum blends intensive classroom instruction with newsroom simulations practical assignments institutional visits mentorship and engagements with experienced journalists and communication specialists.

Training covers investigative and development journalism public relations crisis communication fact-checking digital content production open-source intelligence media ethics and the responsible use of AI. Several alumni are now journalists editors communications officers and digital-media practitioners.

The 2026 edition themed ‘Ethical Communication in the Age of AI’ was graced by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo and communication scholar Professor Umaru Pate. It equipped young practitioners with the skills to navigate misinformation disinformation emerging digital technologies and the demands of modern journalism.