CBN’s Hakama Sidi-Ali Wins National Spokesperson of the Year Award
By Patience Ikpeme
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) achieved a historic milestone in corporate communications as its acting Director of Corporate Communications and Investors Relations, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, clinched the overall Spokesperson of the Year title at the 6th National Spokespersons Awards (NSA) 2026.
The ceremony, held at the NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja, marked a historic triple victory for Sidi-Ali. She became the first communications practitioner in the history of the awards to transition from winning a sector-specific award twice consecutively to claiming the ultimate national honor.
Sidi-Ali, who broke a 66-year barrier in 2023 when CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso appointed her as the first female spokesperson of the apex bank, previously won the Outstanding Spokesperson – Banking Sector award in both 2024 and 2025.
The 2026 NSA edition and the 4th Economic Confidential Annual Lecture were organized by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential, and Spokespersons Digest.
According to the awards jury, Sidi-Ali’s elevation to overall Spokesperson of the Year recognized her influence beyond the banking hall, particularly her role in shaping national economic communication, strengthening public confidence in the Central Bank, and projecting Nigeria’s monetary policy globally.
The panel based its selection on a rigorous evaluation process assessing impact, innovation and originality, campaign reach, and quality of evidence. The jury cited her proactive communications framework at the CBN, which encompasses regular Monetary Policy Committee briefings, targeted stakeholder engagements, investor relations, active media management, and international advocacy.
Her initiatives also gained traction globally, with the CBN’s strategic campaign emerging as a finalist at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards. Additionally, Sidi-Ali was named the African Iconic Female Spokesperson of the Year at the African International Women Recognition Awards (AIWRA) 2026 following a continent-wide public vote.
Speaking on the selection criteria, the Chairperson of the Awards Jury, Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, noted that the 2026 edition received 171 nominations nationwide, which were eventually pruned down to 30 finalists across 15 categories.
“After an initial screening, only entries meeting the required standards of clarity, measurable impact and verifiable evidence progressed to subsequent stages of evaluation,” Abdulbaqi stated, adding that the adjudication process was transparent, evidence-driven, and designed to ensure that recognition reflected demonstrable professional excellence rather than popularity.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of IMPR, Alhaji Yushau A. Shuaib, explained the broader objective of the gathering.
“The National Spokespersons Awards and the Economic Confidential Annual Lecture were established to promote informed national discourse, celebrate professional excellence and strengthen strategic communication in Nigeria,” Shuaib said. He further announced that the IPRA had granted the National Spokespersons Awards Conference Status, elevating its profile onto the global stage.
