By Our Correspondent
The Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has unveiled the 2026 Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LAPRIGA), scheduled to hold on Friday, 11 December 2026, at the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, with a renewed commitment to celebrating innovation, originality, excellence and measurable influence across the communication industry.
The 2026 edition, which marks another significant chapter in the evolution of the prestigious industry awards, is themed ‘Redefining Innovation and Influence’.
Speaking at a media briefing to formally unveil the event, Chairman of the Lagos NIPR, Dr. Samuel Ayetutu, said the theme was carefully chosen against the backdrop of profound changes taking place across public relations, advertising, digital communication, content creation, technology and brand management.
According to him, the boundaries between these disciplines are becoming increasingly fluid, requiring communication professionals to continually rethink how they create value and influence.
“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 environment is no longer determined merely by the size of an organisation’s media budget or its visibility in traditional media. Rather, it is increasingly earned through credibility, relevance, authenticity, engagement and the ability to shape conversations.
He observed that artificial intelligence, data analytics, social listening, automation and other emerging technologies are fundamentally transforming how practitioners research, create, distribute and measure communication.
“Technology has given practitioners unprecedented opportunities to reach and engage audiences, but it has also created new responsibilities”, he said, stressing that in an era where artificial intelligence can generate content within seconds, originality, authenticity and insight have become even more valuable.
The Chairman explained that LaPRIGA 2026 would therefore celebrate not merely activity or visibility, but creativity, value and 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?’”
A major highlight of LAPRIGA 2026 is the introduction of new and expanded award categories designed to reflect the breadth and changing realities of contemporary public relations and communication practice.
The awards will recognise outstanding achievements across 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.
There will also be honorary recognitions, including the Lagos PR Personality of the Year and Lifetime PR Contribution Award, celebrating individuals whose sustained contributions have advanced the profession.
Ayetutu commended the LAPRIGA 2026 Awards Selection Committee, led by Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, for its work in reviewing and expanding the categories.
He said the review was necessary to ensure that LAPRIGA remains inclusive, credible and representative of the depth and diversity of modern communication practice.
Chairman of the LAPRIGA 2026 Planning and Fund-Raising Committee, Mr. Tope Akande, assured stakeholders that his committee is fully committed to delivering an exceptional event.
Akande said the committee had been working diligently to ensure that LaPRIGA 2026 became the best edition of the awards so far, with careful attention being paid to planning, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, guest experience and the overall delivery of the event.
He called on communication professionals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support and participate in the initiative, noting that LaPRIGA provides an important platform for celebrating the people and ideas shaping the future of communication.
Speaking on the selection process, Chairman of the LAPRIGA 2026 Awards Selection Committee, Dr. Dare Ogunyombo, said the expanded categories were designed to recognise excellence across the increasingly diverse communication ecosystem.
He explained that the awards would place strong emphasis on strategic thinking, creativity, execution and measurable impact, rather than visibility alone.
Entries will be assessed across key areas including Strategy and Objectives, Creativity and Innovation, Execution and Implementation, and Impact and Measurement, ensuring that winning entries demonstrate both professional excellence and tangible value.
The selection framework also recognises emerging areas of 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.
The Lagos NIPR encouraged practitioners, agencies, corporate organisations, government institutions and other eligible stakeholders to take advantage of the opportunity to showcase outstanding work and contribute to the advancement of professional standards in the communication industry.
Beyond the awards, LaPRIGA 2026 promises to be an evening of glamour, networking and celebration, bringing together leading public relations practitioners, advertising professionals, corporate communicators, journalists, government communication specialists, brand managers, digital communication experts, academics, business leaders and other stakeholders.