Nigerian communications consultancy, Chain Reactions Africa, has emerged the winner of the Large Consultancy category in the inaugural Africa Consultancy Performance Index, while ranking third overall among the continent’s five leading public relations consultancies.
The recognition was announced and presented by Earned First, a global PR intelligence and media platform serving the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa markets, at PRAXIS Africa during Africa PR Week in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 26, 2026.
Chain Reactions Africa’s third-place overall ranking places the Lagos-based independent consultancy among some of the most prominent PR firms operating across the continent.
The top five comprised South Africa-based Retroviral, Dialogue Communications and Clockwork, Chain Reactions Africa, and Burson Africa.
The consultancy’s victory in the Large Consultancy category was based on its performance across five key evaluation pillars used by the Africa Consultancy Performance Index: Business Performance; Creative Impact & Client Outcomes; Innovation & Thought Leadership; Talent & Culture; and Industry Leadership.
According to the organisers, Chain Reactions Africa recorded particularly strong performances in Business Performance as well as Creative Impact & Client Outcomes.
The continental ranking is notable because Chain Reactions Africa is an independent African consultancy competing against established firms and global PR networks with significant operations across the continent.
The latest recognition further strengthens the consultancy’s growing record of international and continental accolades. It follows the firm’s second-place overall finish at the SABRE Awards, as well as recognitions at the African SABRE Awards, World Public Relations Awards and Commonwealth Environment & CSR Awards.
Commenting on the inaugural Africa Consultancy Performance Index, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Earned First, Arun Sudhaman, said the rankings were developed to identify communications consultancies demonstrating measurable strength across business performance, creativity, innovation, talent and industry leadership.
The assessment, he noted, was designed to provide a more holistic picture of consultancy performance across Africa rather than relying solely on individual campaigns or awards.
Reacting to the recognition, Israel Opayemi, Founder and Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, described the ranking as an important acknowledgement of the consultancy’s growth, people and ambition.
“This means a lot to us at Chain Reactions Africa. We are deeply grateful for this recognition. It represents more than a ranking; it is an acknowledgement of the journey we have taken, the people who have built this consultancy and the ambition we continue to have for African communications.
“To be recognised alongside and ahead of some of the biggest names on the continent is particularly meaningful. It tells us that an African independent consultancy can build world-class capability, compete with global heavyweights and remain deeply rooted in the realities and possibilities of our continent.”
Founded in 2010, Chain Reactions Africa has built its business around strategic advisory, creativity, technology, research and cultural intelligence, with a focus on developing communications solutions for African markets.
The consultancy recorded 18.5 per cent revenue growth in 2025, while expanding its workforce by 17 per cent, from 44 to 53 employees. It also recorded a 60 per cent new-business win rate during the year.
Its portfolio includes strategic communications and public engagement work for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) around Nigeria’s first intra-city electric rail line.
The consultancy also led NIVEA’s SABI hygiene-education programme, which it said contributed to a 40 per cent increase in sales, while its Indomie Heroes campaign helped strengthen the brand’s positioning around children and youth development.
Technology and innovation have also become central to Chain Reactions Africa’s growth strategy.
The consultancy has developed Ara by Prophet, an artificial intelligence and cultural-intelligence platform, alongside ÀRÁMÀNDÀ, an audience-intelligence and research platform designed to provide deeper insights into audiences and consumer behaviour.
The company also highlighted its workplace culture and diversity as part of its performance. Women currently lead every business function within the consultancy, while an 80 per cent staff satisfaction rate reflects what it described as continued investment in talent and organisational culture.
The Africa Consultancy Performance Index evaluates PR consultancies across five broad dimensions — Business Performance, Creative Impact & Client Outcomes, Innovation & Thought Leadership, Talent & Culture, and Industry Leadership — providing a comprehensive assessment of the strength and performance of communications firms operating across Africa.
Chain Reactions Africa’s latest recognition therefore places the Nigerian independent consultancy firmly among the continent’s leading PR and communications firms and underscores the growing global competitiveness of Africa-based communications agencies.