Lagos NIPR Unveils LAPRIGA 2026, Introduces New Categories to Reward Innovation and Impact

 Lagos NIPR Unveils LAPRIGA 2026, Introduces New Categories to Reward Innovation and Impact

The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has unveiled the 2026 Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LAPRIGA), with organisers promising a stronger focus on innovation, originality, credibility and measurable impact in communication.

The prestigious awards ceremony is scheduled to hold on Friday, December 11, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, under the theme, “Redefining Innovation and Influence.”

Chairman of the Lagos NIPR, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, fnipr, frpa, announced the event during a media briefing, explaining that the theme reflects the rapid transformation taking place across public relations, advertising, digital communication, content creation, technology and brand management.

Ayetutu said the increasingly blurred boundaries among these disciplines require communication professionals to rethink how they create value, engage audiences and influence public conversations.

He said innovation should no longer be viewed simply as the introduction of something new, but as the ability to approach problems differently and intelligently while creating meaningful and measurable value.

According to him, influence in today's communication landscape is increasingly earned through credibility, relevance, authenticity and engagement rather than the size of an organisation's media budget or its visibility in traditional media.

He also highlighted the growing influence of artificial intelligence, data analytics, social listening and automation on the communication profession.

“Technology has given practitioners unprecedented opportunities to reach and engage audiences, but it has also created new responsibilities,” Ayetutu said.

He stressed that the ability of artificial intelligence to generate content within seconds makes originality, authenticity and professional insight even more valuable.

“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 said.

New categories introduced

One of the major features of LAPRIGA 2026 is the introduction of new and expanded award categories designed to reflect contemporary 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.

The awards will also feature honorary recognitions, including Lagos PR Personality of the Year and the Lifetime PR Contribution Award, for individuals who have made sustained contributions to the development of the profession.

Ayetutu commended the LAPRIGA 2026 Awards Selection Committee, chaired by Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, for reviewing and expanding the categories.

He said the review was aimed at ensuring that the awards remain inclusive, credible and reflective of the depth and diversity of modern communication practice.

Committee promises enhanced event

Chairman of the LAPRIGA 2026 Planning and Fund-Raising Committee, Mr. Tope Akande, assured stakeholders that the committee was working towards delivering what he described as the best edition of the awards yet.

Akande said attention was being given to planning, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, guest experience and the overall delivery of the event.

He urged communication professionals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support and participate in the initiative, describing LAPRIGA as an important platform for recognising the individuals and ideas shaping the future of communication.

Selection to focus on measurable impact

Ogunyombo said the expanded categories were designed to recognise excellence across the increasingly diverse communication ecosystem.

He explained that entries would be judged on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and measurable impact, rather than visibility alone.

According to him, submissions will be assessed based on Strategy and Objectives; Creativity and Innovation; Execution and Implementation; and Impact and Measurement.

The framework will also accommodate emerging areas of professional practice, including the innovative deployment of technology and artificial intelligence in public relations, crisis management, sustainability communication, community relations, workplace communication, professional education and thought leadership.

Entries open August 31

The organisers said entries for LAPRIGA 2026 will open on Monday, August 31, 2026, and close on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Eligible entries must relate to PR and marketing communication campaigns, activities and programmes initiated and concluded between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026.

The Lagos NIPR urged practitioners, agencies, corporate organisations, government institutions and other eligible stakeholders to use the opportunity to showcase outstanding work and contribute to raising professional standards within the communication industry.

Beyond the awards, LAPRIGA 2026 is expected to bring together public relations practitioners, advertising professionals, corporate communicators, journalists, government communication specialists, brand managers, digital communication experts, academics, business leaders and other stakeholders for an evening of networking and celebration.

Describing LAPRIGA as more than an awards ceremony, Ayetutu said recognition of excellence could inspire greater innovation and strengthen the profession.

“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 urged stakeholders across the communication ecosystem to make the 2026 edition a collective celebration of professional excellence.

“Let us come together to redefine innovation and influence. Let us celebrate those who dare to think differently, recognise those who create original ideas and honour those whose communication does more than make noise, but changes perceptions, inspires action, builds reputation and creates lasting influence.”

The Lagos NIPR Chairman expressed confidence that LAPRIGA 2026 would establish a new benchmark for the awards while reinforcing Lagos' position as a leading hub for professional communication excellence.