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Chain Reactions’ Israel Opayemi Emerges ‘PR Practitioner of the Year’

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Nigeria, one of the country’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consulting Firms and the Exclusive Nigerian Affiliate and Preferred West Africa’s Partner of Edelman, the world’s largest PR firm with presence in 65 countries across the globe, has won the ‘PR Practitioner of the Year’ at the 2018 edition of the Lagos PR Industry Gala Awards (LaPRIGA).

Mr Opayemi was named winner of the prestigious award category during the award ceremony in Lagos on Thursday, December 20, 2018, organised by the flagship Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Commenting on the honour, Mr Opayemi dedicated the award to God and to his team of ‘creative rebels’, and said the award was a motivation for him and the team to improve on the great work Chain Reactions Nigeria has been doing.

“This is not just a recognition award; you have challenged me and my team tonight. And let me say before this circle of professionals that, we will continue to raise the bar of excellence. We will bring more honours to this great profession in our own lifetime”, he enthused.

He thanked the Lagos State Chapter of NIPR for the award, and commended LaPRIGA as a great initiative that promotes professional excellence amongst PR practitioners in Nigeria. 

Speaking at the event, the National President of NIPR, Muktar Sirajo, described LaPRIGA as one of the creative ways to keep PR practitioners on their toes while encouraging more PR professionals to aspire for excellence by ensuring they approach their works in a competitive manner.

He also revealed that the national leadership of NIPR was intensifying the fight against quackery as part of steps to ensuring standards and professionalism in the industry.

“The fight against quackery in the profession is still on. We don’t want to make a lot of noise about that because we don’t want to give away our strategy. But we are on top of it and very soon, we intend to visit the Attorney – General of the Federation who is mandated by the law to set up a tribunal to try people found to be practising Public Relations without licensing by the institute”, he stated.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, said Public Relations is a very important tool for the Lagos State Government to effectively communicate its policies and programmes to the residents of the state and other stakeholders.

“It is always a real challenge every time when we have to convince over 20 million people to buy into our policies. I believe tonight, through the awards, we will see those whose experiments have worked so well that you can learn a few tricks and then try and use one or two in packaging our own policies in government”, he said.

Present at the occasion were the Vice President of NIPR, Comptroller Adeniyi Adewale; President of African Public Relations Association (APRA), Yomi Badejo-Okusanya; Acting Director, Defence Information, Brigadier – General John Agim; NIPR Council Member, Mrs. Nkechi Alli-Balogun; former NIPR President, Mazi Mike Okereke; pioneer Registrar of NIPR, Dr. Adekunle Salu, President of Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), John Ehiguese; a Fellow of NIPR and distinguished academia, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye of the Univesrity of Lagos and Dr. Fassy Yusuf amongst others. Mr Opayemi’s Chain Reactions Nigeria was named the ‘Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm in West Africa’ at the 7th edition of the Nigeria Brand Awards 2017 organised by International Brand Award Nominees in the keenly contested Gold Category award that featured two leading Ghanaian agencies: Insel Communications Ltd and GMA Communications Inc.

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

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Pastor Ogbueli’s Abuja Night of Glory Holds Today

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Abuja Night of Glory

By Blaise Udunze

Momentum is gathering for the Abuja Night of Glory taking place today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The crusade is being hosted by Dominion City Church headed by Pastor David Ogbueli and it starts by 7pm.

The all-night programme will feature dynamic worship leaders like Nathanial Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Theophilus Sunday, Chioma Jesus, Kaestrings, Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye, Minister GUC, Ebuka Songs, Anthony Kani, and DC Angels.

Reputed as a teacher of righteousness and anointed minister of the gospel, evidenced by the miracles that have trailed his ministry, and one who champions the cause of the poor through empowerment initiatives, Dr. David Ogbueli will be joined by renowned ministers from within and outside Nigeria, including Evangelist Andres Bisonni, Dr. Charles Ndifon, Evangelist Dan Scott, Apostle Ikechukwu Nnajiofor, and several others.

Night of Glory has, in previous editions held across Nigeria’s cities, recorded remarkable results, such as immediate healings and freedom from chronic ailments, recovery of vision and movement after many years of paralysis, along with liberation from dependencies and emotional distress. Numerous participants have also shared testimonies of breakthroughs and big personal changes after the experience. Organisers state that this year’s event, in Abuja, is anticipated to exceed previous editions.

The event is intended for all individuals trusting God for divine intervention in any area of life.

Understanding the role of faith in the destiny of individuals and nations, a dedicated prayer session for Nigeria will take place during the crusade to tackle some of the current challenges being faced in the country and also to uplift he leaders and institutions before God.

Attendance is free, and registration is encouraged via the QR codes on event banners. Organisers expect a massive turnout as worshippers travel from across the country for what is anticipated to be a transformative encounter.

Adequate security and free transportation have been put in place ALL over the city of Abuja, while those outside Abuja are expected to join online.

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Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Lawmakers Leave PDP for APC

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rivers speaker Martin Amaewhule defect

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Amaewhule, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the plenary on Friday, Mr Amaewhule joined the ruling party from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 15 other members of the state parliament.

This development comes some months after they had earlier declared their support for the APC in the wake of a crisis with the state governor, Mr Sim Fubura.

The lawmakers had an issue with Mr Fubura, which led to a state of emergency declared on the oil-rich state by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.

This embargo was only lift in September 2025 after the duration of the six-month emergency rule in the state.

A few days ago, members of the Rivers Assembly passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, backing him to remain in office till 2031, when he would have spent eight years in office if re-elected in 2027.

Announcing their defection today, the lawmakers pinned their decision on the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.

It is not certain if their political godfather, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will join them in APC.

Mr Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, has been accused of instigating the crisis in the opposition PDP. He was expelled from the party last month at a national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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Nigeria Risks Brain Drain in Energy Sector—PENGASSAN

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energy sector

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that Nigeria risks massive brain drain in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration.

The president of PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Thursday in Abuja that the industry was facing challenges arising from Naira devaluation and inflation, noting that, oil and gas skills remained globally competitive.

Painting an example, he said, “A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the US or Abu Dhabi,” noting that the union must take steps to bridge the wage gap to prevent members from leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.

“If we don’t act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.

According to him, PENGASSAN has recorded significant gains through collective bargaining across oil and gas branches.

“We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, IOCs, service and marketing sectors,” he said.

He said the agreements brought relief to members facing rising costs of living, adding that, the association’s duty is to protect members’ jobs and enhance their pay.

Mr Osifo urged companies delaying salary reviews and those foot-dragging as a result of the prevailing economic realities, to do the needful.

He said the industry employed some of the nation’s best talents, making competitive pay critical to retaining skilled workers.

“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.

On insecurity, Mr Osifo urged government to take decisive action against terrorism and kidnappings across the country.

“We are tired of condemnations. government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.

He urged government at all levels to prioritise tackling insecurity through better funding and equipment for security agencies.

Mr Osifo said PENGASSAN supported calls for state police to improve local security response, adding that decentralising policing will protect citizens better than rhetoric.

He also said economic indicators meant little, if food prices remained high and farmers could not return to farms due to insecurity.

“Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said, urging the government to coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to ensure economic gains reach households.

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