NIPR @60: Gowon, Jerry Gana, Malagi, IMPR Executives, Others Bag Prestigious Diamond Anniversary Awards

The former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon; the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Former Information Minister, Profesor Jerry Gana, the current Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alh. Mohammed Idris Malagi; Governors of Kwara and Borno States, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and Prof. Babagana Zulum; and others, have been honored with the prestigious ‘Diamond Anniversary Awards’ instituted by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, in commemoration of its 60th Anniversary.

The Diamond Anniversary Dinner and Awards, which marked the conclusion of the NIPR’s 60th-anniversary celebration, featured various categories, including Life Time Awards, Ambassadors of Brands Nigeria and Awards for Excellence in Professional Service and Professional Compliance.

Gowon was bestowed with the “Diamond Icon of National Integration” award, Jerry Gana with the Diamond Icon of Good Governance, Dame Patience Jonathan got the “Diamond Icon of Women Empowerment” while Idris Malagi was bestowed with the Diamond Prize for Excellence in Strategic Communication.

The Chairman and Managing Director of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), Dr Sule Yau Sule and Mallam Yushau A Shuaib were also bestowed with Awards of Excellence.

Image Merchants Promotion Limited is the publisher of PRNigeria, Spokespersons Digest and Economic Confidential, among other titles

Spokespersons of security services, including Dr. Peter Afunanya of the Department of State Service (DSS) and Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were among those who received the “Diamond Award for Excellence in Professional Service”.

While the Kwara State helmsman bagged the “Diamond Prize for Excellence in Enterprise Leadership”, his Borno counterpart carted away the “Diamond Prize for Excellence in Transformative Leadership”.

Among other eminent Nigerians who also bagged the NIPR Diamond Prize are Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State (Diamond Prize for Excellence in Service Delivery); Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State (Diamond Prize for Excellence in Innovative Leadership); Bar. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, (Diamond Prize for Excellence in Service Delivery); Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman/CEO of Air Peace Limited (Diamond Prize for Excellence in the Promotion of Brand Nigeria); and Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs (Diamond Prize for Exceptional Performance in Public Office).

Aside from the Diamond Prizes, other NIPR Diamond Anniversary Award categories include the Diamond Lifetime Award, Diamond Ambassadors of Brand Nigeria, Diamond Award for Excellence in Professional Service, and Excellence in Professional Compliance.

Alh. Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, the immediate-past NIPR President; Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade (rtd), a former Director of Defence Information, DDI; Mrs. Nkechi Alli-Balogun; CP Emmanuel Ojukwu (rtd); and CGC Bashir Adeniyi were among the 58 distinguished NIPR Fellows who bagged the “Diamond Lifetime Award”.

The duo of General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), a former Nigerian Head-of-State, and Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, erstwhile First Lady, were also honoured at the NIPR anniversary dinner celebration.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Diamond Lifetime Award

Former NIPR Presidents and Chairmen of Council

1. Dr. Sam Epelle, fnipr, (1963-1968)

2. Chief Kanu Offonry, fnipr, (1968-1972)

3. Tonye Willie Harry, fnipr, (1972-1976)

4. Alhaji Ikhaz Yakubu, fnipr, (1976-1980)

5. Chief Bob Ogbuagu, fnipr, (1980-1984)

6. Chief Alex Akinyele, fnipr, (1984- 1988)

7. Mazi Mike Okereke, fnipr (1988 -1993)

8. Alhaji Sabo Mohammed, fnipr, (1993-1998)

9. Chief Jibade Oyekan, fnipr, (1998-2001)

10. Amaopusenibo Sof ri Bobo Brown, fnipr (2001-2005)

11. Prof. Nwosu, fnipr, (2005-2009)

12. Alhaji Mohammed A. Abdullahi, fnipr (2009-2013)

13. Prof. Rotimi Oladele, fnipra (2013-2018)

14. Malam Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, fnipra (2018-2023)

15. Alhaji Mohammed Awal Haruna, fnipr (2001-2003)

16. Alhaji Mohammed Usman Dantijo, fnipra (2003-2005)

17. Dr. Tyotom Keghku, fnipr (2005-2007)

18. Dr Dennis Ekemezie, fnipr (2011-2013)

19 Mr Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, fnipr (2013-2018

Last Secretary General

20. Chief Dr. Fassy Adetokunboh Olore Yusuf, fnipr

Notable Former Registrars

21. Dr. Adekunle Salu, fnipra

22. Prof. Mustapha Mallam, fnipr

Longest Surviving Member of NIPR

23. High Chief, lyom, Nonye Josephine Ezeanyaeche (Odueze)

Notable Elders

24. Brig. Gen. Fred Chijuka, fnipr

25. Chief Solomon Ewuga, fnipr

26. Chief Frank Tamuno-Koko, fnipr

27. Chief Casca Ogosu, fnipr.

28. Otunba Adekunle Ojora

29. Prince Hon. Ako Njemanze, fnipr

30. Dr. Andee Iheme, fnipra

31. Otunba Venerable Olufemi Oyawale, fnipr

32. Dr Chuks Osuji, fnipr

33. Prof. Tonnie Iredia, fnipr

34. Chief Uche Udedibia, fnipr

35. Group Capt. Ben Mosugu, fnipr

36. Consultant Abubakar Aliyu, fnipr

37. Maj. Gen. Chris Olukolade, fnipr

38. Mr. Sam Ukoh, fnipr

39. High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, fnipr

Notable Ex-Council Members/ Members with Sustained Contributions

40.Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, fnipr

41.Hajiya Lami Tumaka, fnipr

42.Chief Ben Obi, fnipr

43.Dr. Ben Ahiante, fnipr

44.Prof. Chinyere Okunna, fnipr

45.Mrs. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, fnipr

46.Ambassador Zubairu Dada, fnipr

47.Alhaji Garba Bakori, fnipr

48. Dr. Sule Ya’u Sule, fnipr

49. Chief Mrs Moji Makanjuola, MFR, mnipr

50.Elder Peter Dama, fnipr

51.Elder Emmanuel Ogidi, fnipr

52. CP Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, rtd. mnipr

53. Prof. Lantana Ladi Ahmed, mnipr???

54. Barr. Haroun Audu, fnipr

55. Prof. Emmanuel Owuamalam, fnipr

56.Dr. Wale Ademolekun, fnipr

57.Chief Adeyemi Moses Ajayi, fnipr

58.Elder Osita Okechukwu, fnipr

Diamond Award for Excellence in Professional Service

1. Senator Osita Izunaso, fnipr

2. Dr. Mike Omeri, fnipr

3. HRM Eze Felix Otuwarikpo, fnipr,

4. Eze Igbu Upata III, Rivers State

5. Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, mnipr

6. Saadatu Mahmoud, mnipr

7. Barr. Karibi George, fnipr

8. Pastor Matthew Owobu, fnipr

9. Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, fnipr

10. Mohammed Inuwa Bello, mnipr

11. Mr. Israel Jaiye Opeyemi, fnipr

12. Dr. Peter Oyeneye, fnipr

13. Mr. Akin Okudero, fnipr

14. Dr. Alice O. Ajeh fnipr

15. Mallam Yushau Shuiab, mnipr

16. Hon. Eseme Eyibo, mnipr

17. Prof Okey Okechukwu, fnipr

18. Mallam Kabiru Garba Aminu, fnipr

19. Hajiya Rabi Mohammed

20. Mrs. Ethel Egbeyegbe

21. Mr. Yakubu Lamai

22. HRH Dr. Jacob Olutayo Haastrup, fnipr

23. Dr Peter Afunanya, mnipr

24. Alhaji Kabiru Garba Aminu, fnipr

25. Mr. Sadiq Kassim, fnipr

26. Mrs Mercy Eluemunor, mnipr

27. Mr. Charles Ezeobinwa, fnipr

28. Princess Mrs. Tiwalade Fapohunda, fnipr

29. Dr. Joe Ita, fnipra Mr. Yusuf Muazu, fnipr

30. Mr. Chinedu Achusi, fnipr

31. Dr Muhammad Kudu Abubakar, fnipr

32. Mr. IbukunOluwa Fasan, anipr

33. Dr. Tope Ojeme

34. Olusegun Mcmedal

Diamond Ambassadors of Brand Nigeria

1. Indorama Eleme Mitchell Elegbe, GMD/CEO, Interswitch Nigeria

2. Dr. Jack Mpakaboari, mnipr

3. Osagie Okunbor, MD SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria

4. Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigeria Diaspora Commission

5. Timi Dakolo, Lagos

6. Alistair Soyode, Chair, Ben TV, London

Diamond Award for Valour

7. Tolulope Oluwatoyin Serah Arotile

8. Lt. Colonel Abu Ali

9. Aisha Bakari Gombi

Excellence in Professional Compliance

1. Nigerian Customs Service

2. Nigerian Police Force

3. National Youth Service Corps

4. Nigerian Army

5. Nigerian Air

6. Force Julius Berger Plc.

7. Central Bank of Nigeria

8. Nasarawa State University, Keffi

9. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam

10. Nigerian Television Authority

11. African Independent Television

12. Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria

13. News Agency of Nigeria

14. Voice of Nigeria

15. Nigeria Union of Journalists

16. Guild of Certified Online Publishers