General News
NIPR Named Global Public Relations Association of the Year
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has been named Global Public Relations Association of the Year at the 2025 World Public Relations and Communication Awards organised by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management.
The announcement was made on February 19, 2026, in Lisbon, following a competitive selection process that attracted 89 entries from 19 countries.
According to the organisers, the award recognises NIPR’s leadership in professional regulation, reputation governance, enforcement of ethical standards, strategic communication advocacy, and its reform-driven agenda aimed at repositioning public relations as a strategic driver of national development.
Reacting to the development, NIPR Acting President, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura, described the recognition as “a defining global endorsement of Nigerian professionalism and excellence in public relations.”
“This is not just a trophy. It is evidence that disciplined reform and institutional courage yield results. Nigeria is no longer observing global reputation conversations from the sidelines; we are influencing them,” he said.
Dandaura also commended the Institute’s President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, for what he termed purposeful and visionary leadership that has enhanced the Institute’s national relevance and strengthened its international visibility.
He further congratulated Chain Reactions, a member-agency of NIPR, for winning in the “Internal Communication Campaign” category with its entry titled ‘Next Era of Happiness: Managing Change and Employee.’
The Acting President acknowledged the contributions of past leaders who laid the Institute’s institutional foundation, current council members who have sustained reform efforts, and young professionals across the country whom he described as the future of strategic communication.
The Global Alliance Awards celebrate excellence in public relations and communication worldwide, recognising innovation, impact, ethics and professional advancement across industries and regions.
The formal presentation of trophies is scheduled to take place at the Global Alliance World Public Relations Forum 2026, which will be held from November 15 to 21, 2026, in Abuja, Nigeria.
PHILADELPHIA A 26-year-old Nigerian national has been transferred to the United States to face charges for his alleged role in a sextortion operation that authorities say contributed to the death of a young man in Pennsylvania.
Afeez Olatunji Adewale arrived in the US and appeared before US Magistrate Judge Lynne A Sitarski in federal court in Philadelphia following his extradition on February 13 2026 He is the third Nigerian national extradited in connection with the case and faces charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering
According to the United States Department of Justice Adewale was apprehended in Nigeria on August 17 2023 during a coordinated operation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation aimed at dismantling sextortion networks targeting minors in the United States The extradition was facilitated with assistance from the Justice Departments Office of International Affairs the FBI Legal Attach in Abuja and FBI agents who took custody of him upon his arrival in the US
US Attorney David Metcalf credited Nigerian authorities for their significant role in facilitating the extradition He specifically acknowledged the efforts of Nigerias Attorney General of the Federation the Federal Ministry of Justices International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Investigators from the FBIs Philadelphia Field Office its Fort Washington Resident Agency and the Abington Township Police Department handled the case Assistant US Attorney Patrick Brown is leading the prosecution
Two of Adewales alleged accomplices were extradited earlier in August 2024 Imoleayo Samuel Aina 27 also known as Alice Dave and Samuel Olasunkanmi Abiodun 26 Abiodun later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud In June 2025 US District Judge Joel H Slomsky sentenced him to five years in prison
Aina admitted guilt to multiple charges including cyberstalking interstate threats to damage reputation receiving extortion proceeds money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud In October 2025 Judge Slomsky handed him a six year prison sentence
US authorities allege the defendants operated a sextortion scheme that targeted young American males Victims were allegedly manipulated into sending explicit images which were then used to threaten and extort money under the threat of public exposure The case is connected to the death of a young man in Pennsylvania
In recent years Nigeria has stepped up collaboration with international law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime particularly sextortion cases that have drawn widespread global concern In 2023 Nigerian nationals Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi were extradited to the United States over accusations of sexually extorting several teenage boys including a 17 year old whose death was linked to the scheme
Similarly Olamide Shanu was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States in 2025 for his alleged role in a sextortion network accused of defrauding victims of at least 2 million by posing as women online and threatening to release explicit content
This week Nigerian authorities in collaboration with law enforcement agencies from 15 other African nations announced the arrest of 651 suspected cybercriminals and the seizure of millions of dollars in assets during a coordinated international crackdown
Despite the allegations Adewale is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law
Thousands of Igbo traders currently operating in Lagos are set to relocate to the new Idodo Market City in Enugu State, officials said, as part of a major commercial partnership aimed at boosting private sector-led growth and expanding access to international markets.
The planned migration follows assurances from Enugu State authorities on security, infrastructure development, and economic reforms intended to position the state as a leading commercial hub in Nigeria’s South East region.
A senior government official, speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting, said the partnership with international traders was a deliberate effort to build a sustainable business ecosystem in the state.
“Enugu State is providing leadership; leadership that works,” the official said, adding that the state had taken unprecedented steps to integrate traders into the global market.
Addressing traders’ security concerns, the official described Enugu as the safest state for business operations in Nigeria. He noted that tackling insecurity was Governor Peter Mbah’s top priority, recalling that the governor had pledged to grow the state’s GDP from $4.4 billion to $30 billion within eight years.
Early measures included the enforcement of security strategies to end disruptive sit-at-home orders, the establishment of a technology-driven Command and Control Centre, and the deployment of surveillance systems and drones to monitor communities in real time.
“Today, there is nowhere a crime can take place in Enugu State without being detected. Arrests are made daily. Investors can operate without molestation,” the official said.
Economic reforms, he added, have largely focused on private sector-led growth through public-private partnerships. The state’s 2025 budget projected internally generated revenue at N500 billion, but by the end of the year, Enugu had recorded over N400 billion, marking a significant increase for a state historically reliant on civil service activity.
Infrastructure projects, including the construction of more than 1,000 roads across the metropolis, are also being implemented to facilitate commerce and ease of doing business.
Analysts said the relocation of Igbo traders from Lagos could reshape regional trade patterns and position Enugu as a commercial hub in the southeast. Stakeholders said the initiative, if successfully implemented, could stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities, and strengthen the regional economy.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged voters, political parties, and security agencies to maintain calm, orderliness, and restraint ahead of Saturday’s elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the states of Kano and Rivers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct polls in the six area councils of the FCT, as well as bye-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies in Rivers State, and Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.
In a statement, President Tinubu called on all eligible voters to participate without fear, stressing that democracy thrives in an atmosphere of tolerance and mutual respect. He appealed to political parties and candidates to avoid violence, inflammatory statements, or any actions that could undermine the electoral process.
The president also warned against intimidation or any form of disenfranchisement, emphasizing that security personnel are deployed to protect lives, property, and the integrity of the vote.
He further urged INEC to ensure smooth accreditation, accurate collation, timely transmission of results, and measures that strengthen voters’ confidence, in line with the 2026 Electoral Act.
“Fellow Nigerians, I commend your civic consciousness and assure you that these elections will reflect the will of the people, strengthening our democratic journey,” President Tinubu said.