Barbara Bako, Abuja.
Nigeria has secured three finalist nominations at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards, with communication campaigns for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) advancing to the final stage of the prestigious global competition.
The shortlisted entries, executed by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), are “Reclaiming Public Trust in Nigeria’s Central Banking” for the CBN and “AI for Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy” for NITDA and the CCC.
The campaigns were nominated in the Corporate Communication, AI for Crisis Management, and Publication categories and will be assessed by an international panel of communication professionals before winners are announced later this year in Athens, Greece.
The IPRA Golden World Awards are regarded as one of the highest honours in global public relations, recognising campaigns that demonstrate innovation, creativity, measurable impact, and professional excellence.
The CBN nomination highlights a strategic communication initiative aimed at rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s apex bank following major monetary and foreign exchange reforms introduced under Governor Olayemi Cardoso.
The campaign, coordinated by the bank’s Corporate Communications Department, focused on enhancing transparency through Monetary Policy Committee briefings, stakeholder engagement, investor relations activities, media management, and international advocacy efforts.
According to the submission, the initiative helped improve understanding of key monetary policy decisions while supporting confidence in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda among domestic and international stakeholders.
The entry also cited positive developments, including improved investor sentiment, increased foreign reserves, relative exchange-rate stability, moderating inflation, and Nigeria’s return to the Eurobond market, as outcomes supported by an effective communication strategy.
The second finalist entry centres on the establishment of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), a national platform that emerged from a 107 page research project on artificial intelligence and crisis communication conducted by IMPR Chief Executive Officer, Yushau A. Shuaib, with support from NITDA.
The study explored the opportunities and risks associated with AI-driven communication technologies and recommended the creation of a coordinated national framework to tackle misinformation, disinformation, and other digital threats.
Its recommendations informed the First National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication, convened by the Centre for Crisis Communication, where stakeholders endorsed the creation of the Crisis Communication Hub.
The hub now serves as a collaborative platform for monitoring fake news, tracking harmful narratives, supporting fact-checking initiatives, and coordinating crisis response efforts across the country.
The finalists will undergo a final evaluation by an international jury before the winners are unveiled at the 2026 IPRA Golden World Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in Athens.
The nominations further strengthen Nigeria’s growing presence in global public relations.
IMPR had previously won the 2025 IPRA Golden World Award for a publication project executed for the Nigeria Customs Service and has also received recognition at the SABRE Africa Awards.
Industry observers say the recognition reflects the increasing role of strategic communication in supporting economic reforms, crisis management, digital governance, and institutional reputation building in Nigeria.
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