CBN’s Sidi-Ali wins 2026 NSA Award
By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief
Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has been awarded the 2026 National Spokespersons Award. The announcement was made at the 6th National Spokespersons Awards and the 4th Economic Confidential Annual Lecture, hosted by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) in Abuja over the weekend.
According to the organizers, Sidi-Ali has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first communications professional to win the overall Spokesperson of the Year title after previously winning sector-specific awards consecutively. Her accomplishments follow her historic appointment in 2023 by CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso as the first female spokesperson in the bank’s 66-year history.
In 2024, Sidi-Ali was recognized with the Outstanding Spokesperson in the Banking Sector award and successfully retained this distinction in 2025. Her recognition culminated in 2026, when she was elevated to Spokesperson of the Year, a title awarded in recognition of her influence beyond the banking sector and her contributions to national economic communication.
The award process involved a thorough evaluation based on four criteria: impact, innovation and originality, campaign reach, and quality of evidence. The jury commended Sidi-Ali for her proactive approach in building a comprehensive communications framework at the CBN, which includes regular Monetary Policy Committee briefings, stakeholder engagement, investor relations, media management, and international advocacy.
These efforts have garnered international attention, as the CBN’s communications campaign was named a finalist at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards.
Earlier this year, Sidi-Ali was also recognized as the African Iconic Female Spokesperson of the Year at the African International Women Recognition Awards (AIWRA) 2026, following a public voting process. Professor Saudat Abdulbaqi, Chairperson of the Awards Jury, noted that this year’s edition attracted 171 nominations from across the continent. After an initial screening, only entries that met the required standards of clarity, measurable impact, and verifiable evidence advanced to the final selection, resulting in 30 finalists across 15 categories.
At the awards ceremony, Alhaji Yushau A. Shuaib, CEO of IMPR, highlighted that the National Spokespersons Awards and the Economic Confidential Annual Lecture aim to foster informed national discourse, celebrate professional excellence, and enhance strategic communication in Nigeria.
