Ishola Nasirudeen Ayodele Makes History with Fourth Consecutive National Spokespersons Awards Jury Appointment
By Abubakar Yusuff
Nigerian public relations scholar and message engineering specialist Ishola Nasirudeen Ayodele has been reappointed to the adjudication jury of the 2027 National Spokespersons Awards (NSA), according to Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), organisers of the prestigious award, which is traditionally chaired by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation. With this appointment, Ayodele becomes the first public relations professional in Nigeria’s history to serve on the jury of a national PR award for four consecutive editions.
Speaking on the significance of the award and the calibre of jurors selected, IMPR Chairman and Associate Professor of Strategic Communication Dr. Sule Yau Sule said the National Spokespersons Awards is “Nigeria’s foremost platform recognising excellence in strategic communication and spokespersonship” and “sets the benchmark for professionalism, integrity, and innovation within the communication industry.” He added that the selection process for jurors is rigorous.
According to the appointment letter, the 2027 reappointment follows Ayodele’s service as a jury member for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 editions, and reflects the organisers’ confidence in his professional judgement and commitment to excellence. The letter states: “Your professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, and unwavering commitment to excellence have contributed significantly to the credibility and transparency of the selection process of the most prestigious public relations and communication awards in Nigeria.”
IMPR Managing Director Yushau Shuaib said Ayodele’s continued participation would further strengthen the credibility of the awards, adding: “We look forward to many more years of fruitful collaboration as we collectively promote high standards in spokespersonship, strategic communication, and professional practice.”
The fourth consecutive appointment is not Ayodele’s first industry milestone. In 2025, he became the first PR professional in Nigeria to adjudicate two of the country’s biggest communication awards in the same year, serving simultaneously on the juries of the National Spokespersons Awards and the Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards (LAPRIGA) — underscoring the professional regard he commands nationwide.
Industry observers say Ayodele’s repeated selection is not a sudden accolade but a direct outcome of his institutional contributions to Nigerian public relations. He is the founder and dean of The School of Impactful Communication (TSIC), a professional learning platform that bridges communication theory and practice, recognised as Knowledge Hub of the Year in 2023. His analytical essays — including “AI, Ethics, and the Soul of Public Relations,” published in PRNigeria — have shaped national discourse on strategic communication, according to the organisers, who view such thought leadership as critical to the industry’s evolution. He is also the author of the widely acclaimed PR Case Studies: Mastering The Trade series, which has gained acceptance as a teaching resource in several Nigerian tertiary institutions and serves as a go-to reference for PR agencies. These contributions culminated in Ayodele receiving the PR Scholar/Author Award at the 2021 National Spokespersons Awards.
According to several experts in the Nigerian PR industry, this fourth consecutive appointment reinforces Ayodele’s standing as one of the country’s leading public relations scholars and practitioners.
Abubakar Yusuff is a communications and information management professional based in Lagos, Nigeria. His expertise spans strategic communication, media relations, stakeholder engagement, records administration, policy analysis, and information systems. Can be reached via abubakaryusuff59@gmail.com