Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, has emerged as a finalist in the prestigious 2026 National Spokesperson Awards (NS Awards), earning recognition in the highly competitive Crisis Communicator category.
The announcement followed the conclusion of the first and second phases of assessment conducted by the awards jury, which shortlisted 42 finalists across 16 categories from an initial pool of 171 nominations submitted nationwide.
According to the organisers, Waiya was nominated alongside Lere Olayinka of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Dan Nwomeh of the Enugu State Government for their outstanding contributions to crisis communication and public engagement.
The jury, chaired by Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, said finalists were selected based on impact, innovation, reach and the quality of evidence submitted in support of their nominations.
The National Spokesperson Awards, now in its sixth edition, recognises excellence in public communication, media relations, digital engagement, crisis management and strategic stakeholder relations across government institutions, corporate organisations and the media.
Waiya’s nomination is being viewed as a significant recognition of his communication efforts in Kano State, particularly in managing public information and government-citizen engagement during critical periods.
Other notable finalists include Hakama Sidi Ali and Dele Oyewole in the Spokesperson of the Year category.
Chairman of the Awards Committee, Segun McMedal, described the finalists as some of the country’s most accomplished communication professionals and institutions, reflecting the growing sophistication of Nigeria’s public communication landscape.
The winners are expected to be announced in August during the 2026 National Spokesperson Awards ceremony scheduled to hold in Abuja alongside the annual Economic Confidential Lecture.
Waiya’s nomination has been widely welcomed by communication professionals and stakeholders, who see it as a testament to the increasing recognition of strategic communication as a vital component of governance and public service delivery in Nigeria.