The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has unveiled the 2026 Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LAPRIGA), promising a bigger and more impactful celebration of innovation, originality, excellence and influence in Nigeria’s communication industry.
The prestigious awards ceremony is scheduled for Friday, December 11, 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, under the theme, “Redefining Innovation and Influence.”
Speaking at the official media unveiling, Chairman of Lagos NIPR, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, fnipr, frpa, said the theme reflects the rapid transformation taking place across public relations, advertising, digital communication, content creation, technology and brand management.
He explained that the boundaries separating these disciplines are increasingly disappearing, making it imperative for communication professionals to constantly rethink how they create value and influence audiences.
“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.”
Ayetutu noted that influence in today’s communication landscape is no longer determined solely by media budgets or traditional visibility. Instead, credibility, relevance, authenticity, engagement and the ability to shape meaningful conversations have become critical measures of influence.
He further pointed to artificial intelligence, data analytics, social listening, automation and other emerging technologies as forces reshaping how communication professionals research, create, distribute and measure content.
According to him, while technology has opened unprecedented opportunities for audience engagement, it has equally increased the responsibility of practitioners to uphold originality and authenticity.
“In an era where artificial intelligence can generate content within seconds, originality, authenticity and insight have become even more valuable,” he said.
The Chairman stressed that LAPRIGA 2026 would therefore go beyond recognising visibility or routine activity, focusing instead on creativity, value and measurable impact.
“The question is no longer simply, ‘Can we create content?’ The more important question is, ‘Can we create something original, authentic, insightful and consequential?’”
New Categories to Reflect Evolving Communication Landscape
A major feature of LAPRIGA 2026 is the introduction of new and expanded award categories designed to capture the changing realities of contemporary public relations and communication practice.
The awards will recognise outstanding achievements in areas including 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 include Lagos PR Personality of the Year and the Lifetime PR Contribution Award, recognising individuals whose sustained contributions have advanced the profession.
Ayetutu commended the LAPRIGA 2026 Awards Selection Committee, chaired by Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, for reviewing and expanding the award categories to make the programme more inclusive, credible and representative of modern communication practice.
Planning Committee Targets Landmark Edition
Chairman of the LAPRIGA 2026 Planning and Fund-Raising Committee, Mr. Tope Akande, assured stakeholders that the committee is determined to deliver what he described as the best edition of the awards yet.
According to Akande, the committee is paying close attention to planning, partnerships, stakeholder engagement, guest experience and the overall delivery of the ceremony.
He called on communication professionals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support and participate in LAPRIGA, describing it as an important platform for celebrating the people, ideas and innovations shaping the future of communication.
Selection Process to Focus on Impact, Creativity
Also speaking, Chairman of the LAPRIGA 2026 Awards Selection Committee, Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, said the expanded categories would ensure recognition of excellence across the increasingly diverse communication ecosystem.
He explained that entries would be assessed based on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and measurable impact, rather than visibility alone.
Key assessment areas will include Strategy and Objectives, Creativity and Innovation, Execution and Implementation, and Impact and Measurement.
The framework also recognises emerging areas such as artificial intelligence and technology deployment in PR, crisis communication, sustainability, community relations, workplace communication, professional education and thought leadership.
Entries Open August 31
The organisers announced that entries for LAPRIGA 2026 open Monday, August 31, 2026, and close 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.
LAPRIGA: More Than an Awards Night
Beyond recognising outstanding practitioners and campaigns, LAPRIGA 2026 is expected to provide an avenue for networking and industry engagement, bringing together public relations practitioners, advertising professionals, corporate communicators, journalists, government communication specialists, brand managers, digital communication experts, academics and business leaders.
Ayetutu described LAPRIGA as more than an awards ceremony, stressing that recognition is essential to inspiring greater professional excellence.
“Recognition matters. When we recognise excellence, we encourage excellence. When we celebrate innovation, we inspire others to innovate,” 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 will set a new benchmark for the awards while reinforcing Lagos’ position as a leading hub of professional communication excellence.