Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, has presented the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).
The handover, held in Abuja, celebrated the recognition earned by the organisations in Athens, Greece, for advancing artificial intelligence, digital innovation and strategic communication within Nigeria’s crisis‑management ecosystem.
The “From Study to Strategy” campaign secured Golden World Awards in the AI in Crisis Communication and Publication categories. At the same time, IMPR clinched the coveted Grand Prix—the highest honour—for executing the overall best entry of 2026.
During the presentation, IMPR CEO Yushau A. Shuaib said the trophies demonstrate the power of research‑driven communication and interagency collaboration, noting that the winning campaign originated from a research project on the application of AI in crisis communication across Nigeria’s public sector.
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Shuaib, a Fellow of IPRA (FIPRA), commended CCC for endorsing the research, which later informed the National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication, which convened stakeholders from government institutions, security agencies, the tech sector, and communication professionals.
Insights from the engagements contributed to the development of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCH)—a digital platform designed to strengthen coordinated responses to emerging communication threats through monitoring, research, information‑sharing and institutional synergy.
NITDA Director‑General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi praised IMPR and CCC for the partnership that produced a globally acclaimed campaign, depicting the awards—especially the Grand Prix—as evidence of what institutions can achieve when they combine technological innovation with effective public communication.
Inuwa reaffirmed NITDA’s commitment to supporting digital transformation and strengthening public institutions’ capacity to deploy emerging technologies responsibly. He stressed the importance of leveraging AI and digital tools to improve efficiency, enhance information management and handle modern communication challenges.
Congratulating IMPR and NITDA, Chairman of the Centre for Crisis Communication, Major General Chris Olukolade (rtd.) described the awards as recognition of sustained collaboration in promoting innovative approaches to crisis communication.
Olukolade appreciated the federal agency’s consistent support for CCC programmes, including initiatives aimed at improving institutional preparedness, strategic communication and stakeholder coordination during emergencies.
He also acknowledged NITDA’s support for the Second National Symposium on Crisis Communication, in Kaduna, from October 27 to 28, 2026. The conference will focus on interagency accord and examine how institutions can improve cooperation in managing crises and safeguarding public confidence.
The latest Golden World Awards add to IMPR’s international honours, including previous IPRA and SABRE Africa prizes. The firm was named the Most Creative PR Agency in PRovoke Media’s 2020 Global Creative Index and won the 2026 IPRA Grand Prix in Greece.
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