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Chain Reactions Africa Wins ‘Edge Outstanding PR Agency of the Year’ at Marketing Edge Awards 2024
Chain Reactions Africa (CRA), one of Africa’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consultancies, has further consolidated its market leadership position as one of Africa’s best public relations consulting firms by emerging as the ‘Outstanding PR Agency of the Year’ at this year’s edition of the prestigious Marketing Edge Awards.
The award, according to the organisers, is in recognition and celebration of the company’s “rising brand equity and sterling performance over and above its peers in the last one year.”
Israel Opayemi, the company’s Managing Director/Chief Strategist, was also adjudged as the overall best in the individual category, carting away the ‘Edge Grand Prix In PR’ award, the highest category of the Marketing Edge Awards that any personality could get.
This was in recognition and celebration of his professional and entrepreneurial odyssey, and the Olympian heights to which he has led the company across Africa over the years, the award organisers said.
This is the second time in two years that the company has won both awards. It would be recalled that Chain Reactions Africa had during the 2023 edition of the award, then known as the Marketing Edge Brands and Advertising Excellence Awards, won the ‘Outstanding PR Agency of the Year’, while its Chief Executive scooped the ‘Outstanding Leadership Award in Public Relations’ award.
This year’s the award ceremony held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, in Lagos coincides with the 21st anniversary of Marketing Edge, Nigeria’s leading brand-focused marketing and advertising publication, and which has been at the vanguard of brand journalism in the last 21 years.
Speaking on the awards, the Managing Director/ Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, Mr. Israel Jaiye Opayemi noted the significance of the recognitions to the firm as a brand, the nation, and the integrated marketing communication ecosystem whilst appreciating the awards organisers.
“This Edge Awards, from the stable of Marketing Edged is most appreciated. We thank the organisers for this recognition. The awards are another evidence of Chain Reactions Africa’s leadership, competence, hard work, commitment, and discipline imbued to distill client’s briefs and deliver superior value to them,” he said.
He extolled the exceptional professional skills of the staff of Chain Reactions Africa, thanking them for their dedication, hard work and sacrifice over the years. “I am most grateful to the Chain Reactions Africa tribe of creative rebels, as I call them. There wouldn’t be a Chain Reactions Africa without my team of dedicated and talented individuals who drive the business with exceptional passion.
“I am very proud of the brave hard work we do, our irrevocable commitment to always lead with strategy, our investment in neuroscience, our investment in data and research, and our absolute commitment to always end everything we do with creativity so as to deliver quality service to our various clients.”
“On behalf of Chain Reactions Africa, I dedicate this recognition as Nigeria’s Outstanding PR firm to all our present clients. I thank you for the liberty you have given us to breathe our unique approach to strategy into your brands. Thank you for allowing us the space to be irreverent to normal. We will continue to make strategy first the holy grail of what that we do for you,” Opayemi added.
“These awards conferred on us will be a catalyst to spur us to go the extra mile to reaffirm the essence of our core mandate, which is ‘gold service standard’ that is rooted in Chain Reactions Africa’s brand DNA”, Opayemi said.
In his comments, the Publisher/ CEO of Marketing Edge Magazine, John Ajayi, congratulated all the winners on their awards, and urged them to sustain the momentum of their endeavours, character, and all the things that stands them out in the marketing communications industry. “Congratulations to all the winners, as well as all the nominees, for the various awards and nominations, and more wins in the future. Your contributions have indeed brought out the best in the industry. You are all winners”, Ajayi said.
The latest awards are just a few out the many recognitions in the cabinet for Chain Reactions Africa. The company had in May this year been recognised with the ‘PR Agency of the Year’ award at ‘The Industry Awards’ for the year ending 2023.
In addition to this, the company had also put up a seven-star performance during the annual African Public Relations Association (APRA) Conference on May 16, in Basam, Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire where it was presented with seven African SABRE trophies by Provoke Media, the highest by any public relations firm in Africa in the 2024 competition.
The Sabre Awards covered campaigns for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), and its Lagos Blue Rail, 9mobile’s The Hack – Expand Your Hustle’, ‘Taming the Bull’ for the Presidency, and ‘Next Era of Happiness’ for leading biscuit company, Pladis Foods Nigeria Limited.
The Marketing Edge, Edge Awards ceremony is a major industry event that recognizes, rewards, and celebrates deserving brands, institutions, agencies and personalities with enviable milestones. This years’ Edge Awards ceremony themed, ‘Tech Acceleration: Integrating AI Without Sacrificing Human Creativity’ was held as a hybrid event, with the physical location at the Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos. It featured both the awards and Marketing Edge National Marketing Stakeholders Summit.
Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced plans to introduce Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology across domestic and international airport terminals to tackle the growing problem of delayed, misrouted and missing luggages
Michael Achimugu, director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, NCAA, disclosed this at a stakeholder engagement forum in Lagos.
Achimugu said the RFID-enabled system would replace the traditional barcode-based baggage tracking framework and provide airlines and passengers with real-time visibility of checked luggage from check-in to final collection.
According to him, the technology would improve baggage traceability, reduce mishandling and strengthen accountability across the baggage-handling chain.
Unlike conventional barcode systems, RFID technology allows baggage to be automatically scanned at multiple points without requiring direct line of sight, enabling real-time tracking of luggage throughout its journey.
Achimugu said issues involving short-landed, missing, lost or damaged baggage had remained among the major complaints from air travellers, alongside flight delays.
He said the introduction of RFID technology was therefore aimed at improving baggage-handling standards and restoring passenger confidence in the aviation sector.
The NCAA said the initiative also aligns with IATA Resolution 753, which requires airlines to track baggage at key points during the passenger journey.
The authority expects the technology to provide more accurate information on the location of luggage, facilitate quicker resolution of baggage-related complaints and improve the overall passenger experience.
The NCAA said the initiative would also strengthen accountability among airlines and other stakeholders involved in baggage handling at Nigerian airports.
eTranzact International Plc has called for increased adoption of digital payment solutions among micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), saying access to technology is critical to improving business efficiency, financial inclusion and growth.
The company also said it was deepening its partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to expand digital access and financial literacy among small businesses across the country.
In a statement, the Divisional Head, Merchant Services, eTranzact, Mrs. Abimbola Reis, stated this at the SMEDAN/eTranzact Town Hall Engagement in Lagos recently, themed, “Financial Literacy and Inclusion for MSMEs Leveraging on Fintech Innovation.”
Reis described MSMEs as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, noting that the sector comprises almost 40 million businesses and contributes significantly to economic growth and job creation.
However, she said many businesses continue to face challenges including limited access to finance, inefficient payment systems, weak financial reporting, cash-flow constraints and inadequate access to digital platforms.
She added that trust concerns also affect businesses’ ability to access finance, while heavy reliance on cash increases exposure to theft and makes payment reconciliation more difficult.
Representing the Director-General of SMEDAN, Prof. Yinka Fisher said the town hall was aimed at generating practical ideas and solutions that would support the growth and expansion of MSMEs.
“The essence of this engagement is to share ideas and concepts that will help MSMEs thrive and expand. Our partnership with eTranzact is about expanding the frontiers of MSMEs and ensuring they continue to grow,” he said.
Also speaking, representative of the Director-General of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dr. Praise Adedigba said businesses could no longer depend solely on hard work to remain competitive.
As the world marks International Youth Day, attention once again turns to the opportunities and challenges facing young people as they prepare for work, financial independence, and adulthood.
In Nigeria, the urgency is clear. According to UNICEF, about 7% of young people aged 15–24 possess basic ICT skills, highlighting a wider gap in the skills required to participate effectively in an increasingly digital economy.
At the same time, the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, continues to prioritize skills development, job creation, entrepreneurship and social inclusion.
For PalmPay, youth empowerment goes beyond corporate social responsibility. It is an investment in the people who will shape Nigeria’s workforce, businesses and economy.
This belief is reflected in initiatives focused on financial literacy, employability, digital skills and access to opportunities.
Through its Graduate Trainee Programme, PalmPay provides young graduates with opportunities to gain workplace experience, develop professional skills and build careers in a fast-evolving industry.
The investment also extends to financial education. Through its NYSC Financial Literacy Programme, PalmPay brings practical financial education to young Nigerians at an important transition point, helping Corps members develop better habits around saving, spending, budgeting and protecting their money.
For young women, Purple Woman provides another pathway to economic empowerment, creating opportunities for internships, learning and professional development while supporting greater female participation in the technology sector.
Speaking on the importance of youth empowerment, Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay Nigeria, said: “Nigeria’s young population is one of its greatest assets, but unlocking its potential requires access to the right skills, knowledge and opportunities. At PalmPay, we are committed to equipping young Nigerians to learn, earn and thrive in an increasingly digital economy. We believe that investing in young people today is an investment in a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria.”
These initiatives reflect a broader belief that youth empowerment is most meaningful when young people are given the knowledge, exposure and opportunities to apply what they learn.
A graduate given workplace exposure today can become tomorrow’s business leader. A Corps member who develops sound financial habits can carry those lessons into their career and personal life. A young woman given access to professional opportunities can gain the confidence, experience, and networks to create opportunities for others.
Investing in young people is a great strategy for building a stronger, more productive, and more inclusive economy.
This International Youth Day, PalmPay reaffirms its commitment to investing in young Nigerians and contributing to a broader national ambition where the young population is not just counted, but equipped, employed, empowered, and positioned to lead.
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