Chain Reactions Africa Emerges Africa’s No. 3 PR Consultancy
LAGOS — Chain Reactions Africa, a Lagos-based independent communications consultancy, has emerged the leading firm in the Large Consultancy category of the inaugural Africa Consultancy Performance Index, while ranking third overall among the continent’s top five public relations consultancies.
The feat was announced and presented by Earned First, a global PR intelligence and media platform serving Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, during PRAXIS Africa at the Africa PR Week in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 26, 2026.
Chain Reactions Africa was ranked third overall behind South Africa’s Retroviral and Dialogue Communications, while Clockwork and Burson Africa completed the top five.
The consultancy’s recognition followed its performance across five key evaluation areas — Business Performance; Creative Impact and Client Outcomes; Innovation and Thought Leadership; Talent and Culture; and Industry Leadership.
According to the organisers, Chain Reactions Africa recorded particularly strong results in Business Performance and Creative Impact and Client Outcomes, earning it the top position in the Large Consultancy category.
The ranking places the Nigerian independent consultancy alongside major African firms and global PR networks, further underscoring the growing competitiveness and influence of Africa-based communications firms on the global stage.
The latest recognition adds to Chain Reactions Africa’s growing list of international honours, following its 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.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Earned First, Arun Sudhaman, said the inaugural Index was designed to identify consultancies demonstrating strong and measurable performance across business growth, creativity, innovation, talent development and industry leadership.
Reacting to the recognition, Founder, Managing Director and Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, Israel Opayemi, described the ranking as a significant validation of the consultancy’s journey and its commitment to building world-class African communications capabilities.
He said, “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 positioned itself around strategic advisory, creativity, technology, research and cultural intelligence.
The consultancy recorded 18.5 per cent revenue growth in 2025, expanded its workforce by 17 per cent from 44 to 53 employees and achieved a 60 per cent new-business win rate during the period.
Its portfolio includes LAMATA’s public engagement campaign around Nigeria’s first intra-city electric rail line, NIVEA’s SABI hygiene-education programme, which contributed to a 40 per cent sales increase, and Indomie Heroes, which reinforced the brand’s positioning around children and youth development.
The company has also continued to invest in technology and intelligence, with innovation initiatives including Ara by Prophet, an AI and cultural-intelligence platform, and ÀRÁMÀNDÀ, its audience-intelligence and research platform.
The consultancy said women currently lead every business function, while an 80 per cent staff satisfaction rate reflects its focus on employee development, workplace culture and talent retention.
The Africa Consultancy Performance Index assesses PR consultancies across five core dimensions — Business Performance; Creative Impact and Client Outcomes; Innovation and Thought Leadership; Talent and Culture; and Industry Leadership — providing a broad-based assessment of performance across Africa’s communications industry.