Nigeria has received international recognition for its efforts to use technology in tackling misinformation, deepfakes and other emerging digital threats, with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) winning two 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards.
NITDA received the awards in partnership with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) at a ceremony held in Athens, Greece.
The agency was recognised in the Artificial Intelligence in Crisis Management and Publication categories for its role in establishing the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub).
The hub was developed from an empirical research study on artificial intelligence and crisis management supported by NITDA. It is designed to improve the way emerging digital threats capable of undermining public trust are identified, monitored and addressed.
A key part of the initiative is the use of artificial intelligence for crisis communication and proactive social listening. The platform also focuses on identifying fake news, deepfakes and other forms of digital manipulation that could trigger communication crises.
The initiative brings relevant stakeholders together to enable faster and more coordinated responses to communication emergencies.
The awards were formally received at the high-level ceremony at Hotel Grande Bretagne in Athens by Hajiya Hadiza Umar, who represented NITDA, alongside Professor Yau Sule of IMPR.
The international recognition underscores the agency’s efforts to promote digital literacy and responsible use of artificial intelligence while developing communication strategies to address the growing challenges posed by misinformation and other digital threats in Nigeria.
The awards also highlight the increasing role of technology and strategic communication in protecting public trust and improving crisis response in the country’s rapidly evolving digital environment.
