Funso Aina, Senior Manager of External Relations at MTN Nigeria, has been recognized as the Most Influential PR Professional of 2022 by the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
The award ceremony, held on December 2 at the D’Podium Event Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, recognized over 20 honorees from public relations consultancies, public and private sector practitioners, stakeholders, and the media in various categories.
This is Aina’s second recognition from the NIPR in the past two years.
Funso Aina, a Bachelor of Arts graduate with over 26 years of experience in journalism, cultural diplomacy, and telecommunications, was awarded the Best in Crisis Management by the Lagos State chapter of the NIPR in the past year.
This year, Aina received the award for leading the execution of MTN’s Media Innovation Program in partnership with the School of Media & Communication at Pan-Atlantic University. The program equipped 20 journalists with digital media skills and provided them with the opportunity to travel to the University of Wits in South Africa for further capacity development.
Aina, a member of the NIPR, considers the award from the industry regulator to be a testament to MTN’s dedication to supporting the growth of the Nigerian media industry and providing opportunities for capacity-building in the field of media.
“I am grateful for the recognition and extend my appreciation to the Lagos Chapter of the NIPR for consistently organising the awards, and more importantly for promoting best practices in the industry,” he said.