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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has secured two honours at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA), earning international recognition for its work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, crisis communication and digital trust.
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NITDA, working in collaboration with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC), received Golden World Awards in the Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Management and Publication categories.
The awards were presented at a high-level ceremony in Athens, Greece, marking an international recognition of an initiative designed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to communication crises in an increasingly digital environment.
Crisis Communication Hub at the Centre of Award
At the heart of the award-winning initiative is the establishment of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), described as a national framework supported by empirical research into artificial intelligence and crisis management.
The initiative is designed to address some of the challenges created by the rapid spread of digital information, particularly during periods of crisis when misinformation and manipulated content can undermine public confidence.
Its approach combines AI-enabled monitoring, crisis communication and stakeholder coordination.
Using AI to Strengthen Crisis Management
One of the key elements of the Crisis Communication Hub is the proposed use of artificial intelligence to improve how emerging crises are identified and managed.
The initiative focuses on smart AI governance, including the use of AI tools for crisis communication and proactive social listening.
The objective is to help stakeholders identify emerging narratives and potential communication threats earlier, allowing institutions to respond more strategically.
As digital platforms increasingly influence how citizens receive and share information, the ability to monitor information environments in real time has become an important component of crisis management.
Tackling Fake News and Deepfakes
Another component of the initiative is the use of technology to detect misinformation, fake news, deepfakes and other digital threats.
The focus reflects the growing challenge posed by manipulated digital content, particularly when false information circulates rapidly during emergencies or sensitive national events.
By strengthening detection and response mechanisms, the initiative seeks to help protect public trust and provide stakeholders with better tools for distinguishing credible information from potentially harmful digital content.
Coordinated Response to Communication Emergencies
The Crisis Communication Hub is also intended to improve coordination among stakeholders during communication emergencies.
Rather than having institutions respond independently to emerging crises, the framework seeks to bring relevant stakeholders together to enable faster and more coordinated responses.
Such coordination can be particularly important when misinformation spreads across multiple digital platforms and requires responses involving government institutions, communication professionals, technology experts and other stakeholders.
NITDA, IMPR and CCC Recognised Together
The awards recognise the collaborative work of NITDA, IMPR and CCC around the Crisis Communication Hub initiative.
The partnership combines NITDA’s digital technology and policy focus with the communication and crisis-management expertise of the participating organisations.
The collaboration reflects the increasingly close relationship between technology and strategic communication, particularly as AI becomes more deeply embedded in information ecosystems.
Awards Presented in Athens
The awards were formally received during the global gathering at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens, Greece.
Hajiya Hadiza Umar represented NITDA at the ceremony, alongside Professor Yau Sule of IMPR.
The recognition places Nigeria’s digital technology and crisis-communication efforts on an international platform and highlights the growing importance of AI-enabled approaches to managing information risks.
AI, Digital Trust and Nigeria’s Emerging Technology Agenda
The international recognition comes as Nigeria continues to explore how artificial intelligence can be applied to public-sector challenges, digital governance and economic development.
For NITDA, the Crisis Communication Hub provides another example of how emerging technologies can be applied beyond conventional technology services to address challenges involving information integrity and public trust.
The initiative also underscores the importance of responsible AI deployment. While AI can improve monitoring and response capabilities, its use in crisis communication requires appropriate governance, human oversight and safeguards against misuse.
From Crisis Response to Digital Resilience
The significance of the Golden World Awards extends beyond the recognition itself.
The Crisis Communication Hub represents an attempt to build greater institutional preparedness for an information environment in which crises can escalate rapidly through social media, deepfakes and other forms of digitally manipulated content.
By combining AI-enabled monitoring with coordinated communication, the initiative seeks to move crisis management towards a more proactive model—one capable of identifying emerging threats before they become full-scale communication crises.
For NITDA, the international recognition reinforces its stated commitment to digital literacy, responsible AI deployment and technology-enabled communication strategies as Nigeria continues to build its digital economy.
