Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Spokespersons Digest, has won the Grand Prix at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards. The awards ceremony was held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece. IMPR earned the top global distinction for its campaign, "AI for Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy." The international jury described the campaign as representing the highest standards of public relations practice in 2026.
The award-winning initiative began as a research project led by IMPR's Chief Executive Officer, Yushau A. Shuaib. The research was conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) and supported by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). The project examined the rising threats of AI-driven misinformation, deepfakes, and digital information disorder. It translated its findings into a strategic communication framework to strengthen Nigeria's crisis-response capabilities.
The research project's recommendations informed the inaugural National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication. The symposium convened security agencies, government institutions, media organisations, civil society groups, and technology experts. The symposium laid the foundation for the proposed Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), a 24-hour, AI-enabled platform designed for social listening, deepfake detection, misinformation monitoring, and coordinated crisis communication.
IMPR's CEO, Yushau Shuaib, described the Grand Prix as a historic achievement for the company and a landmark moment for Nigeria's public relations industry. He mentioned that after 10 years of participation and multiple wins at the IPRA Golden World Awards, IMPR has, for the first time, been honoured with the Grand Prix. Shuaib expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Information, NITDA, CCC, the Nigeria Customs Service, media partners, security agencies, and the research team whose contributions supported the initiative.
The Grand Prix was received on IMPR's behalf by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. Adeniyi was also honoured with a special award for his contributions to transparent communication, stakeholder engagement, and the promotion of international best practices in public relations. IPRA Secretary-General Philip Sheppard described IMPR's winning campaign as a pioneering initiative at the intersection of artificial intelligence and public relations.
The 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards brought together public relations professionals from more than 50 countries to celebrate outstanding campaigns, innovative communication strategies, and global excellence. IMPR's Board Chairman, Professor Sule Yau Sule, and other dignitaries represented Nigeria at the ceremony. The awards ceremony recognised campaigns aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and the Global Contribution Award went to V+O Greece | SEC Newgate for Mastercard's ReStart employment initiative.
IMPR's latest honour builds on its growing international reputation. In 2020, the company was named the world's most creative public relations agency in the Global Creativity Index published by PRovoke Media. The Grand Prix marks the culmination of a decade of participation in the international awards and underscores the growing influence of Nigerian public relations practitioners in research, innovation, and strategic communication on the global stage.
Key points
- IMPR wins Grand Prix at 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards for its campaign on AI for Crisis Communication.
- The award-winning campaign was a pioneering initiative at the intersection of artificial intelligence and public relations.
- IMPR's achievement marks a landmark moment for Nigeria's public relations industry and its growing influence globally.
