A 400-level student of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Daniel Nnam, has won the NECCI Public Relations essay competition, clinching a cash prize of N250,000.
Nnam topped 24 other contestants from five tertiary institutions across the country to win the 2025 edition of the contest.
Nnam was announced the winner during the 25th NECCI Public Relations roundtable held on October 23, 2025, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
A student of Covenant University, Baba-Enoch Temitope, came first runner-up and received N150,000, while Tomiwa Oyegunle of Olabisi Onabanjo University emerged second runner-up and was awarded the sum of N100,000.
The 2025 roundtable, with the theme, “The Ethics of Governance: Shaping Reputation through Public Relations,” brought together policymakers, thought leaders, and corporate executives to discuss the role of ethics in leadership and communication.
The convener and founder of the NECCI PR Roundtable, Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogun, said the essay writing contest is an initiative to nurture emerging talent in the public relations industry.
“With your support, we envision this prize evolving into a prestigious annual award that recognises and nurtures outstanding talent in public relations,” Alli-Balogun said.
She stated that the roundtable continued to promote professional excellence through partnerships with institutions like the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and corporate organisations.
She emphasised the need to continue to promote ethical communication and good governance in rebuilding public confidence.
In his keynote address, veteran broadcaster and Chairman of Channels Media Group, Dr John Momoh, said Nigeria’s greatest challenge was not lack of information but a deficit of credibility.
Momoh said, “Trust is the currency of leadership between leaders and citizens, government and the governed, and between Nigeria and Nigerians.
“People no longer take official statements at face value. They hear promises that don’t match their pay and see projects launched but rarely completed.”
Momoh noted that when citizens lose faith in their leaders, “no amount of publicity can repair that loss of trust.”
He added, “When we talk about the ethics of government, we’re talking about what leaders do when no one is watching. Ethics is integrity, transparency and accountability; doing the right thing, not the complicated thing.”
The Group Executive Director of Rainoil Ltd, Godfrey Ogbechie, also underscored the link between integrity and effective crisis management.
“Integrity is the best crisis management tool. When you choose openness over silence and honesty over convenience, trust grows even in tough times,” Ogbechie said.
“We are in difficult times globally. As professionals, we must be more than storytellers; we must be truth tellers. Let our messages align with our values.”
