Funso Aina, senior manager, External Relations at MTN Nigeria, was honoured with the prestigious Outstanding Public Relations and Corporate Communications Personality of the Decade award at the 2025 EDGE Awards, in recognition of his enduring impact on Nigeria’s communications landscape.
The award celebrates over two decades of excellence in shaping narratives, building reputations, and influencing the evolution of public relations across journalism, cultural diplomacy, and corporate communications.
With nearly 30 years of experience, Aina is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished communications professionals.
Before joining MTN Nigeria in 2009, he held senior editorial roles at Punch, The Nation, and The News magazine, earning international recognition including a fellowship with the Commonwealth Press Union in London and participation in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors’ Programme.
His journalism career included serving as Chief Correspondent at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and later as a member of Punch’s Editorial Board.
Aina also worked as the Communications Manager of British Council, UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations, leading strategic communications efforts that bridged global institutions with local audiences, mastering the art of cultural diplomacy.
He brought this depth of experience to MTN Nigeria, where he has become a central figure in perception management, stakeholder engagement, and business impact assessment.
Known for his strategic clarity and calm analytical approach, Aina is respected for his ability to distil complex issues into clear, actionable communication.
Reflecting on the honour, Aina said:
“This award wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the incredible exceptional team I am privileged to work with at MTN. I thank you all.”
His recognition came on a night of multiple wins for MTN Nigeria clinching 2025 Brand of the Year award, while colleagues Onyinye Ikenna-Emeka, chief marketing officer, and Lakinbofa Goodluck, PR manager, also received top individual honours, underscoring the company’s leadership in marketing and communications.
For Aina, the award is not just a personal milestone but a testament to the evolution of the communications profession in Nigeria. His career reflects a belief that communications is not merely a support function, but a strategic driver of corporate credibility and national progress.
His work has helped elevate PR and corporate communications from messaging to strategy, shaping not only MTN Nigeria’s reputation but also the broader industry.
Among his many accolades are: Outstanding Achiever in Media Relations – Africa Digital Awards (2023); Innovator of the Year – SABRE Awards (2023), Frankfurt – the first African and Black recipient in the award’s history; Most Influential PR Practitioner in Nigeria – LaPRIGA Awards (2022); Best in Crisis Communications Management – LaPRIGA Awards (2021); and Best Communications Specialist (Telecoms) – BJAN Marketing Awards (2019), etc.
