After an 11-year hiatus, the Nigerian Broadcasters Merit Awards (NBMA) is set to make a highly anticipated return in February 2026.
According to a statement by Omogbolahan Akinwumi, the Chief Operating Officer of the award ceremony, the 2026 edition will once again honour excellence, innovation, and impact across Africa/Nigeria’s vibrant broadcast media industry. The host state for the 2026 edition will be announced in due course.
The NBMA, renowned for celebrating radio and television personalities, stations, and productions that have shaped the nation’s media narrative, is re-emerging with renewed energy, exciting new categories, a new website, and a revamped digital presence.
“We’re thrilled to bring back the NBMA after more than a decade of reflection, restructuring, and visioning,” said Omogbolahan Akinwumi, Chief Operating Officer of the awards. “The return of the NBMA marks a new era for broadcasting recognition in Nigeria – one that embraces today’s digital media evolution while honouring the timeless values of professional excellence and audience engagement.”
Continuing, Akinwunmi said, “Here’s what is new in 2026 as NBMA returns. Our newly launched www.nbmawards.com offers an intuitive platform for nominations, voting, partnership opportunities, and updates. It reflects a modern, transparent, and interactive approach to managing the awards. In response to the changing landscape of media, the 2026 edition will feature new categories recognizing podcasters, digital content creators, media entrepreneurs, and community broadcasters, in addition to the traditional broadcast legends and trailblazers.
“We are calling on brands, stakeholders, and passionate individuals to partner with us in making the return historic. The Nigerian media has been at the forefront of national development,
and it’s time we amplify the voices behind the microphones and cameras,” Akinwumi added.
