Funso Aina, Senior Manager, External Relations at MTN Nigeria, has been named the 2025 EDGE ‘PR and Corporate Communications Personality of the Decade’, cementing his place as one of Nigeria’s foremost communication strategists.
The award, conferred at the prestigious Marketing Edge Awards, celebrates Aina’s decades-long contributions to public relations, corporate communications, media engagement, and reputation management.
In his acceptance remarks, a visibly moved Aina said, “I thank God for this latest recognition, The 2025 EDGE ‘PR and Corporate Communications Personality of the Decade’ Award. Wow! Just wow! I am very grateful to the award organizers, Marketing Edge, fronted by John Ajayi, a true visionary. Finally, this award and all the many others wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the incredibly exceptional team I am privileged to work with at MTN. I thank you all. Indeed, as can be seen on the landing page of ‘Google Scholar,’ I stand on the shoulders of giants.”
With close to 30 years of experience spanning journalism, cultural diplomacy, and telecommunications, Aina has consistently raised the bar for public relations in Nigeria. He is widely regarded as a result-oriented professional with expertise in corporate communications, stakeholder management, crisis communication, and strategic media relations.
His academic pedigree includes a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Ilorin (1992) and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (1998). He is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School’s Senior Management Programme and an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Since joining MTN Nigeria in 2009, Aina has played pivotal roles in shaping the telecoms giant’s external relations strategy. Rising from Public Relations Manager to Senior Manager, External Relations in 2018, he has been instrumental in steering MTN’s stakeholder engagements, strengthening its public trust, and connecting business strategy with societal impact.
Under his leadership, MTN’s communications strategy has consistently achieved top-of-mind awareness for the brand’s products, services, and social impact initiatives, while also helping the company navigate sensitive issues and crises with credibility.
For Aina, PR is not cosmetic but strategic. “PR is not a band aid over a mortal wound,” he often asserts. His work ethic is described as painstaking and consistent, while his leadership philosophy emphasizes collaboration, shared vision, and clarity of direction.
