The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), has won two prestigious awards at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA) in Athens, Greece.
The awards, presented in the Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Management and Publication categories, recognise the partners’ efforts to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and research-driven communication strategies to strengthen crisis management and combat misinformation in Nigeria.
The recognition celebrates the establishment of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), a national framework designed to improve crisis communication through the application of AI and evidence-based strategies.
The initiative is anchored on an empirical research study on AI and crisis management supported by NITDA, highlighting the growing role of digital technologies in addressing emerging communication challenges.
The CCHub framework focuses on the deployment of AI tools for crisis communication, proactive social listening and the early detection of potential threats to public trust.
It also seeks to tackle misinformation, fake news and deepfakes by deploying digital tools to identify and counter misleading information capable of undermining public confidence.
Another key component of the initiative is the promotion of coordinated crisis response through collaboration among stakeholders across the country to ensure timely and strategic communication during emergencies.
The awards were formally received at a high-level global gathering held at the iconic Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, with Hajiya Hadiza Umar representing NITDA alongside Professor Yau Sule of IMPR.
The recognition underscores the increasing importance of AI-driven communication systems in strengthening institutional preparedness, improving information management and responding to crises in an increasingly complex digital environment.
It also highlights NITDA’s commitment to advancing digital literacy, promoting the ethical deployment of AI and supporting innovative communication strategies that enhance Nigeria’s digital transformation agenda.
Through the collaboration, NITDA, IMPR and CCC are advancing a framework that seeks to strengthen public trust, improve crisis preparedness and promote responsible technology adoption in Nigeria’s communication ecosystem.
