Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, says he will continue to raise the bar in public communication and also serve the Nigerian public with integrity.
Soneye said this on Thursday in Abuja in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria following his emergence as the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Spokesperson for 2025.
He said: “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.”
NAN reports that he brushed aside other contestants in a keen contest by the nominees at the NIPR 2025 award held in Abuja on Wednesday.
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He defeated Shell Petroleum’s Igo Weli, Nigeria Police Force spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Sifax Group Olumuyiwa Akande, and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency spokespersons Osagie Edward, to clinch the award.
His triumph in the NIPR 2025 award started from the category of the Distinguished Spokesperson (Oil and Gas), from which he outran spokespersons of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, and Shell Petroleum, Igo Weli.
Soneye, while reacting to the award, said that he made a vow to be a transparent and professional spokesperson, committed to timely, accurate, and impactful communication.
He said: “This award reinforces our shared dedication to raising the bar in public communication and serving the Nigerian public with integrity.
“As I always say, NNPC is our collective asset and belongs to all Nigerians.
“We remain committed to keeping the public informed and involved in our activities, as we continue to ensure energy security for our nation.”
Dr Shaibu Hussein, Chairman, Adjudication Committee, said the award selection process was rigorous and demanding.
Hussein, who was represented by a member of the committee, Lami Tuiaka, said that Soneye’s victory was predicated on his communication skills, crisis management, and overall impact.
He said: “Soneye’s capacity to shape public opinion also stood him out from the crowd of other spokespersons.
“Our committee, comprising communication scholars, PR practitioners and media personalities worked tirelessly to review the nomination, assess performances and deliberate on the winner.
“I must report that we carefully examined each nomination, considering factors such as communication skills, crisis management and overall impact.”
It would be recalled that Soneye had in 2024 defeated the spokesperson of Shell Companies in Nigeria, Michael Adande, and spokesperson of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Dr. Johnson Nkwocha, to clinch to the “Distinguished Spokesperson in Oil and Gas” award.
In 2025, the NIPR depicted Soneye as a “diligent” spokesperson, describing him as a “strategist”.
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