The 2025 PR Power List ceremony brought together Nigeria’s communications industry leaders to recognise professionals driving innovation and excellence in public relations practice. Organised by GLG Communications in partnership with the Guardian Newspapers, the annual event highlights practitioners whose work has significantly impacted the industry and shaped contemporary communication strategies across various sectors.
Dr. Lakinbofa Goodluck, MTN Nigeria’s Public Relations Manager, was one of the 19 recipients of the ‘Changemaker’ category, a select group of Nigerian professionals whose innovative approaches are reshaping how organisations engage with their audiences in an increasingly complex media environment.
The category featured notable industry leaders, including Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Mabel Adeteye, who heads Corporate Communications at Wema Bank, and Diran Olojo, the Group Head of Corporate Affairs at FCMB Group, along with other respected practitioners. This recognition reflects the calibre of professionals driving strategic communication excellence across Nigeria’s corporate and institutional sectors.
Speaking during the event’s panel session, Dr. Goodluck addressed the delicate balance between authenticity and appropriateness in corporate communication. “Typically, authenticity has layers, but the easiest one to see may be how you appear. A man can wear boxers at home; it’s acceptable. But imagine that someone comes in through this door wearing boxers. What happens? Everybody is looking like, ‘Are you alright?’ The society is already punishing him for going against the expected standard of behaviour,” he explained. He advised professionals to “express your authenticity, you first need to understand the context and the acceptable standard of behaviour, so that your authenticity is not dead before it is even expressed.”
“Public relations is often a thankless job, with the brilliant minds doing the magic for brands and corporations usually operating behind the scenes,” explained Omawumi Ogbe, Organiser of the PR Power List. “Yet, we know that PR is absolutely crucial for success. We created this list and these events precisely to celebrate the dedicated professionals who make brands, both individual and corporate, truly shine.”
The recognition comes as Nigeria’s PR industry experiences significant transformation. NIPR President Ike Neliaku announced the establishment of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group to safeguard and project the country’s image globally, while industry leaders prepare for hosting the World Public Relations Forum and African PR Conference in 2026. Dr. Goodluck’s changemaker status positions him as a key voice in this evolution, advocating for data-driven, audience-centric communication strategies that reflect how modern Nigerians actually consume media rather than traditional assumptions about audience behaviour.
