The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has won two prestigious awards at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA) held in Athens, Greece. The awards were received in the Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Management and Publication categories. This recognition is a testament to NITDA's efforts to advance the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in crisis communication.
The awards were formally presented at a ceremony held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, with Hajiya Hadiza Umar and Prof. Yau Sule of IMPR receiving them on behalf of NITDA. This achievement follows the establishment of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), a national framework designed to strengthen crisis communication through research, artificial intelligence, and coordinated stakeholder engagement.
The Crisis Communication Hub is supported by an empirical research study on the application of AI in crisis management, with support from NITDA. The framework is designed to leverage AI tools for crisis communication, proactive social listening, and the early identification of emerging threats. It also seeks to address the growing challenge of misinformation, including fake news and deepfakes, while strengthening public trust in information disseminated during emergencies.
Another key component of the initiative is the coordination of stakeholders across the country to ensure timely and strategic communication during crises. This is crucial in addressing the growing challenges in Nigeria's digital information environment. The recognition also highlights NITDA's commitment to promoting digital literacy, responsible artificial intelligence deployment, and innovative communication strategies.
Through its collaboration with IMPR and CCC, NITDA is supporting efforts to strengthen Nigeria's capacity to manage communication emergencies and respond effectively to the challenges posed by misinformation and evolving digital threats. The agency's efforts are geared towards promoting digital innovation and ensuring that Nigeria remains at the forefront of technological advancements.
The 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards brought together communication professionals and organisations from across the world to recognise excellence in public relations and strategic communication. This event provided a platform for organisations to showcase their innovative approaches to communication and crisis management. NITDA's achievement is a significant milestone in its efforts to promote digital innovation and responsible AI deployment.
The recognition of NITDA's efforts is a testament to the agency's commitment to promoting digital literacy and innovative communication strategies. The agency's achievement underscores the growing role of technology and strategic communication in addressing emerging challenges in Nigeria's digital information environment. This achievement will further encourage NITDA to continue promoting digital innovation and responsible AI deployment in Nigeria.
Key points
- NITDA won two awards at the 2026 International Public Relations Association Golden World Awards.
- The awards were received in the Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Management and Publication categories.
- The recognition highlights NITDA's commitment to promoting digital literacy, responsible artificial intelligence deployment, and innovative communication strategies.
