…Unveils Selection Panel

The Nigeria Digital PR Summit has officially opened nominations for the second Nigeria Digital PR Awards, a prestigious platform that recognizes excellence, innovation, and impact in digital public relations across Nigeria.

Honourees will take the spotlight at the Nigeria Digital PR Awards Gala; a premium evening celebrating the individuals, organizations, and campaigns that defined digital PR in the past year, marking the 10th Nigeria Digital PR Summit. Adding flair to the night is the Digital PR Fashion Runway; a bold fusion of fashion, technology, and communications that promises an unforgettable experience.

This year, 19 award categories will honour campaigns across four classes including Campaign Excellence Awards, Sector Excellence Awards, Innovation and Technology Awards, and Individual & Professional Excellence Awards.

The Summit also unveiled a three-member Selection Panel responsible for reviewing entries and shortlisting winners.

The panel is chaired by the Founder and CEO, Fernhill Digital Consulting, Datari Ladejo, and includes the former Senior Business Program Manager, MarComms, Africa Development Center (ADC – West), Microsoft, Oluwamuyemi Orimolade; and Founder/Lead Partner, PuzzleCraft PR and Communications, Beatrice Okpara.

Nominations are open to agencies, corporate communication teams, NGOs, startups, and individual practitioners whose work has delivered measurable results and demonstrated creativity in leveraging digital platforms.

Nominations run from September 1 – 8, 2025. Shortlisted nominees will be announced during the Awards Gala on October 16, 2025, at the Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island. For entry guidelines and submission details, visit: https://forms.gle/cM2oFQTnSSqL51EC9.

Founder, Nigeria Digital PR Summit, Segun McMedal, said, “We are excited to launch this year’s call for nominations and to welcome such distinguished professionals to the Selection Panel. This panel reflects the breadth of expertise driving digital communication in Nigeria, and its stewardship will ensure a fair and transparent evaluation process.”

The seven categories in the Campaign Excellence Awards include Best Overall Digital PR Campaign, Best Brand Advocacy Campaign, Best Crisis Communication in Private Organisations, Best Crisis Communication in Government, Best Public Affairs Campaign, Youth Impact Award for Social Change, Outstanding Influencer Collaboration, and Best Use of Content Marketing.

Categories in the Sector Excellence Awards include Excellence in Public Service Digital Campaign, Digital PR Excellence in Telecom Services, Digital PR Excellence in Financial Services, and Sustainability and ESG Communication Excellence.

The Innovation and Technology Awards category include Innovative Use of Technology in PR, Best Digital Engagement with Citizens, Outstanding Digital Customer Experience, and Creative Use of Short-Form Video in PR. The Individual and Professional Excellence Awards include Emerging Digital PR Professional of the Year and Digital PR Professional of the Year.

A District Court in Finland has handed down a six-year prison sentence to Simon Ekpa, a self-declared leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, following his conviction on terrorism-related charges.

Ekpa was arrested on November 21, 2024, by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), triggering a broad inquiry into his alleged activities, including incitement of violence via social media and involvement in unrest across Nigeria’s southeastern region.

According to the court ruling, Ekpa was found guilty of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and for supporting a terrorist organization. His conduct, which spanned from August 2021 to November 2024, included the provision of weapons, explosives, and ammunition to armed groups, along with using his social media platforms to mobilize violence.

Adding to his conviction, Ekpa was found guilty of aggravated tax fraud and violations of attorneys’ regulations, further compounding the severity of the charges.

This verdict marks a significant move by Finnish and international authorities to counter separatist agitation linked to the Biafra independence movement, underscoring the criminality of inciting violence across borders.

In the light of recent insinuations, half-truths and fake information being circulated, we find it expedient to make it abundantly clear that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has been guided, at all times, by the principles of fairness, justice, and equity in the distribution of federal government projects, appointments, and opportunities across all six geopolitical zones of our country.

Contrary to the perception being pushed in some quarters, this administration has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced development and inclusivity since assuming office.

The distribution of capital projects under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is equitable. No region is playing a second fiddle or ignored. In addition to projects by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, all six regions now have Regional Development Commissions to re-kickstart development efforts.

While the Coastal Highway courses through the South, the Badagry–Sokoto Highway, under construction, traverses majorly the North. This sense of balance runs through all the major infrastructure projects being implemented today.

Major infrastructural interventions are simultaneously ongoing across the federation—from highways and bridges to rail and power projects.

The administration has secured funding for light rail projects in Kano and Kaduna states to the tune of ₦150 billion and ₦100 billion, respectively.

The metroline projects in Lagos and Ogun States form part of the government’s effort to develop Nigeria’s light rail infrastructure. Collectively, these projects are expected to create over 250,000 jobs nationwide.

There is also a renewed push for the rehabilitation of the Eastern Corridor of the rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. In addition, over 1,000 primary health care centres have been rehabilitated across the country, underscoring the administration’s commitment to human capital and social infrastructure.

From verifiable data, the actual distribution of projects shows the Northwest as the biggest beneficiary:

        •       Northwest: ₦5.97 trillion (over 40% of approvals)
        •       South South: ₦2.41 trillion
        •       North Central: ₦1.13 trillion
        •       South East: ₦407 billion
        •       North East: ₦400 billion
        •       South West (excluding Lagos): ₦604 billion

Legacy Road Projects under President Tinubu:
 
1.    Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway (750 km): 175 km ongoing in Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States.
2.    Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway (1,068 km): 378 km ongoing in Kebbi and Sokoto sections.
3.    Trans-Sahara Highway (465 km): 118 km ongoing in Ebonyi State.
4.    Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe Road (439 km): Being redesigned from flexible to rigid pavement for durability.

Out of the total length of these projects, the North accounts for 52% and the South for 48%.

Other Major Projects in the North:

        •       Sokoto–Gusau–Funtua–Zaria Road (275 km dualised, ₦824bn).
        •       Abuja–Kaduna–Kano Road (350 km dualised, ₦764bn).
        •       BUA Tax Credit Road in Jigawa, Katsina, Kano (256 km dualised).
        •       Zaria–Hunkuyi Road (156 km).
        •       Kano Northern Bypass (49 km).
        •       Kano–Maiduguri Road (100.9 km).
        •       Bama and Dikwa Roads in Borno (100 km).
        •       Damaturu–Maiduguri Road (110 km).
        •       Malando Road in Kebbi (76 km).
        •       Benue–9th Mile Road (250 km dualised, $958m).
        •       Lokoja–Okene Dualisation (86 km).
        •       Kaduna–Katsina Roads (Sections 1 and 2, ₦150bn).

Major Projects in the South:

        •       Lagos–Ibadan (8.5 km, ₦33bn).
        •       Lagos–Sagamu (12 km dualised).
        •       Oyo–Ogbomoso–Ilorin (₦146bn).
        •       Rehabilitation of Carter, Third Mainland, and Eko Bridges (₦120bn).

South East:

        •       Enugu–Onitsha Road (107 km, ₦202bn via MTN Tax Credit).
        •       Enugu–Onitsha Road (72 km, ₦150bn via CBC).
        •       Enugu–Abakaliki Road (36 km).
        •       2nd Niger Bridge Access Road (17.5 km dualised, ₦175bn).
        •       Lokpanta–Enugu Road (61 km dualised, ₦100bn).

South South:

        •       Eleme–Onne Road (30 km, ₦156bn).
        •       Eket Bypass (9.7 km dualised, ₦76bn).
        •       East–West Road Section 2 (₦186bn).
        •       Nembe–Brass Road (₦150bn).
        •       Lokoja–Benin Dualisation (₦167bn).
        •       2nd Niger Bridge Access Road in Delta (17 km dualised, ₦146bn).
        •       Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers (35 km with 12 bridges, ₦200bn).

Beyond roads and rail, this administration has also revived the 255MW Kaduna Power Plant, advanced the AKK Gas Project, and expanded oil and gas exploration in the North with the drilling of three oil wells in the Kolmani region of Bauchi and Gombe States. Kano-Maradi rail line, inherited at 5% has received huge funding support from the government making it attain 67% within a short time.

President Tinubu is building national infrastructure, not local trophies. Lagos is rightly upgraded as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but the Northwest holds the lion’s share of approvals. This proves that all regions are receiving fair consideration.

Equity is also evident in federal appointments. President Tinubu has consistently appointed capable Nigerians from every part of the country, guided by competence and inclusivity rather than sectional considerations.

Inclusivity lies at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda. The establishment of five new Regional Development Commissions and the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development further illustrate the President’s determination to address Nigeria’s unique developmental needs in a manner that benefits all sections of the country.

On the whole, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has not only kept faith with Nigerians but has proven himself to be a fair, pragmatic, and consequential reformer.

His leadership is inclusive, his vision is unifying, and his commitment to equity and justice is unwavering.

Nigerians can rest assured that under his watch, no part of this country will be left behind.