Nigeria’s public relations sector has once again asserted itself as a major creative force across Africa, with local agencies taking centre stage in the 2026 Africa SABRE Awards shortlist. The country’s PR firms delivered a commanding performance, particularly Chain Reactions Africa and Integrated Indigo, which secured multiple nominations across key categories, highlighting Nigeria’s growing influence in the continent’s communications landscape.
The Africa SABRE Awards shortlist features over 120 campaigns chosen from more than 500 entries, showcasing the breadth and innovation of public relations and communications work across the continent. A panel of industry leaders evaluated the submissions and selected campaigns that demonstrate “Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation and Engagement,” the core criteria for the prestigious awards.
Chain Reactions Africa Leads the Pack
Chain Reactions Africa emerged as the standout performer, earning recognition across a wide range of categories and industries. The agency secured a coveted nomination for Company of the Year, thanks to its “Premier League Trophy Tour” campaign for Guinness Nigeria—a campaign that captured widespread attention and delivered measurable impact.
The agency also made a strong impression in the Superior Achievement in Measurement and Evaluation category, with its “The Vibranium” campaign for T2, demonstrating its commitment to data-driven communication strategies.
Chain Reactions Africa’s influence extended strongly in the Western Africa regional category, where it secured three nominations for:
- “From Promises To Proofs” for The Presidency
- “Show Some Love To Mum” for Indomie
- “Standing for Climate Action. Repping the Future” for C40 Cities and Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources
The agency also achieved recognition in several industry-specific categories, including:
- Marketing to Consumers (Existing Product) – “Deeply Rooted” for Orijin
- Public Sector/Government – “From Promises To Proofs” for The Presidency
- Technology – “The Vibranium” for T2
- Travel & Leisure – “Lagos Shopping Festival” for Lagos State
- Reputation Management – “A Symphony Of Voices” with 9mobile
Integrated Indigo Demonstrates Versatility
Integrated Indigo also delivered a strong showing, securing nominations across a diverse range of practice areas and sectors. The agency received two nominations in Corporate Social Responsibility for:
- “Nigerian Bottling Company’s Youth Empowered”
- “Women on Wheels” for Lafarge
It also earned recognition in:
- Marketing to Consumers (New Product) – “Launching Nigeria’s 1st Low Carbon Concrete” for Lafarge
- Financial Communications – “A $50 Million Investment Story” for Lagos Free Zone
- Industrial/Manufacturing – two nominations, including “Nigerian Bottling Company’s rPET Collection Hub” and “Women on Wheels” for Lafarge
Other Nigerian Agencies Shine
Several other Nigerian agencies also secured notable nominations, reflecting the depth of talent across the country:
- Red Media Africa was nominated in the Media Relations category for the “Super Falcons WAFCON Trophy Tour” campaign with Nigeria Breweries and also secured a nomination in the Mining sector for Segilola Resources Operations.
- CMC Connect earned a nomination in Media, Arts & Entertainment for the “Ilorin Innovation Hub Art Hackathon” campaign with IHS Nigeria.
- Image Merchants Promotion achieved a Diamond SABRE nomination in the CEO of the Year category for “Impactful PR in Customs Service” with the Nigeria Customs Service, and won the Crisis/Issues Management category for “War Against Drug Abuse” with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Awards Ceremony Set for March 17 in South Africa
The 2026 Africa SABRE Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 17 at The Venue Melrose Arch in South Africa. This year’s awards will be held in partnership with PRCA, and will take place alongside PRCA’s South Africa conference.
Nigeria’s Growing Regional Influence
The strong presence of Nigerian agencies across the 2026 SABRE shortlist underscores the country’s rising status as a hub for innovative and impactful PR and marketing campaigns. As Nigeria continues to produce high-calibre work that resonates across industries and borders, its communications sector is increasingly shaping the future of African public relations.
The SABRE Awards continue to recognise the continent’s most effective and influential communications campaigns, celebrating excellence in branding, reputation management, and audience engagement across Africa.