NNPC’s Olufemi Soneye named NIPR ‘Spokesperson of the Year’ for 2025

Mr Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has pledged to continue advancing standards in public communication and to remain committed to serving Nigerians with integrity.

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during an interview, Soneye expressed gratitude following his emergence as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Spokesperson of the Year for 2025.

“I am deeply honoured to be named Spokesperson of the Year by the NIPR. This recognition is not mine alone; it belongs to the exceptional team I work with every day,” he said.

The award ceremony, held in Abuja on Wednesday night, saw Soneye come out ahead in a competitive field of nominees. He was selected over prominent figures including Igo Weli of Shell Petroleum, the Nigeria Police Force spokesperson ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Olumuyiwa Akande of Sifax Group, and Mr Osagie Edward of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

His path to the award began in the Distinguished Spokesperson (Oil and Gas) category, where he outperformed Chief Chinedu Ukadike of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Shell’s Igo Weli.

Responding to the accolade, Soneye reaffirmed his commitment to honest, timely and effective communication. He described the award as both an affirmation of his guiding principles and a call to continue upholding public trust.

“This recognition reaffirms our shared dedication to improving public communication and to engaging the Nigerian public transparently.

“As I always say, NNPC is a collective national asset. It belongs to all Nigerians. We remain focused on keeping the public informed and engaged as we work to secure the country’s energy future,” he said.

Dr Shaibu Hussein, Chairman of the NIPR Adjudication Committee, described the selection process as thorough and demanding. Represented by fellow committee member Lami Tuiaka, he said Soneye’s win was based on clear merit.

“Soneye’s ability to shape public discourse and manage communication during critical moments distinguished him from a strong group of contenders.

“Our committee, which includes communication scholars, public relations practitioners and media experts, worked diligently to evaluate the nominees. We examined each candidate’s communication abilities, approach to crisis management and broader impact before reaching a decision,” he explained.

It is worth recalling that in 2024, Soneye was named “Distinguished Spokesperson in Oil and Gas”, prevailing over Shell Companies in Nigeria’s spokesperson Michael Adande and Dr Johnson Nkwocha of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited.

In 2025, the NIPR commended Soneye once more, describing him as a “diligent” communicator and a “strategist” with a clear vision for public engagement.