Last Friday night at Muson Centre, Lagos was a moment of gratitude and celebration as Lagos Chapter of Nigeria Institute Public Relations laid red carpets to mark the impact and growth of Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards, LaPRIGA after 10 years of consistency.
The colourful momentous event brought together captains of industry, stakeholders in the marketing communication eco-system and clients to honour a journey defined by resilience.
When delighted Samuel Ayetutu, Chairman of NIPR, Lagos chapter mounted the stage, he told the captivating audience that over the years, what began as a novel idea has grown into one of the largest and most glamorous Public Relations events in Sub-Sahara Africa.
“Ten years on, LaPRIGA stands tall as a testament to what collective passion and professional excellence can achieve”, he said.
Ayetutu said the event marks not just another chapter in their journey, but a significant milestone that speaks to the legacy, vision and commitment of the leaders who build and nurtured the chapter over the years.
Speaking on the event’s theme, Nox Excellentia – Night of Excellence, Ayetutu said, it captures the essence of NIPR profession, saying that “Excellence is the most enduring value that public relations practitioners embody”.
Chido Nwakanma, Chairman of the selection committee, said there were 105 entries across 19 award categories which reflected the dedicated effort of practitioners and the increasing prestige of the award.
Nwakanma said the committee observed that a surge of entries occurred after the official deadline, exceeding those received during the regular submission period. He cautioned that this pattern of last-minute participation complicates the administrative process.
“The committee observes with concern the limited involvement of public relations professionals within the corporate Nigeria and leading agencies. “An overly familiar group of entrants persists, not fully reflecting the diversity of competition within the Lagos State’s PR industry”. He enjoined the broader PR eco-system to join the fold.
He regrets that despite clear criteria, a number of entries were incorrectly categorized.
During the night, organisations and outstanding creative works that made impact in the communication industry were recognised.
