A 400-level Mass Communication student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Daniel Nnam, has emerged winner of the 2025 NECCI Public Relations Essay Competition, taking home a cash prize of ₦250,000.
Nnam triumphed over 24 contestants from five tertiary institutions across Nigeria to clinch the top prize, announced during the 25th NECCI Public Relations Roundtable held on October 23, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The first runner-up, Baba-Enoch Temitope of Covenant University, received ₦150,000, while Tomiwa Oyegunle of Olabisi Onabanjo University came third with a ₦100,000 award.
This year’s roundtable, themed “The Ethics of Governance: Shaping Reputation through Public Relations,” convened policymakers, corporate leaders, and communication experts to discuss how ethical leadership and transparent communication can rebuild public trust.
Founder and convener of the NECCI PR Roundtable, Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, said the annual essay competition was designed to identify and nurture the next generation of public relations professionals.
“With continued support, this prize will grow into a prestigious award that recognises and celebrates outstanding talent in the PR industry,” she said.
Dr. Ali-Balogun added that NECCI’s partnership with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and other organisations continues to promote excellence, professionalism, and ethical communication in the field.
In his keynote address, veteran broadcaster and Chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr. John Momoh, highlighted credibility as the foundation of effective governance and communication.
“Trust is the currency of leadership between the government and the governed. Nigerians no longer take official statements at face value because promises rarely match reality,” Momoh observed.
He stressed that no amount of publicity can rebuild lost trust when credibility is compromised, adding that,
“Ethics is integrity, transparency, and accountability — doing the right thing even when no one is watching.”
Also speaking, the Group Executive Director of Rainoil Limited, Godfrey Ogbechie, emphasised that integrity remains the most effective crisis management tool.
“When you choose openness over silence and honesty over convenience, trust grows even in difficult times,” he said. “As communication professionals, we must be truth-tellers, not just storytellers.”
The NECCI Roundtable, now in its 25th year, continues to serve as one of Nigeria’s foremost platforms for promoting ethical leadership, professional excellence, and responsible public relations practice.
