BY COBHAM NSA – Nigeria has struck gold on the global PR stage with three prominent institutions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) listed as finalists for the prestigious 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards (GWA).
The three groundbreaking communication campaigns, engineered by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), has further cemented the Agency’s status as a world-class leader in strategic communications
Advancing to the competition’s final round, where they will be evaluated by an international jury of communication experts, the shortlisted entries are “Reclaiming Public Trust in Nigeria’s Central Banking” for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); and “AI for Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy” for the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC).
According to a statement issued in Abuja, the nominations fall under the Corporate Communication, AI for Crisis Management, and Publication categories.
The IPRA Golden World Awards are widely regarded as one of the most respected honours in global public relations, celebrating campaigns that demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, creativity, and adherence to the highest professional standards.
The CBN’s initiative is recognized for its comprehensive campaign and strategic communication programme designed to rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s apex bank following sweeping monetary and foreign exchange reforms introduced under Governor Olayemi Cardoso.
According to the entry, the campaign successfully repositioned the CBN as a transparent, reform-driven institution by modernising its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) briefings, stakeholder engagements, investor relations, media management, and international advocacy.
Implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Corporate Communication team, this initiative, which sought to clarify complex monetary policies and elevate market confidence, gained momentum following Governor Cardoso’s appointment of Hakama Sidi Ali as the institution’s first female spokesperson.
Backed by a clear communication strategy, the report credits recent policy efforts with fostering stronger investor interest, rising foreign reserves, currency stability, inflation moderation, and Nigeria’s return to the Eurobond market.
The second finalist entry focuses on the establishment of the Crisis Communication Hub (CCHub), a national platform that emerged from a 107 page empirical research project on Artificial Intelligence and crisis communication conducted by IMPR CEO, Yushau A. Shuaib, with support from NITDA.
Examining the risks and opportunities of AI driven communication technologies, the research recommended a coordinated national framework to combat misinformation, disinformation, and digital threats.
These findings prompted the Centre for Crisis Communication to host the First National Symposium on Digital Innovations in Crisis Communication, where stakeholders officially endorsed creating the CCHub that today serves as a collaborative platform to counter fake news, track dangerous narratives, support fact-checking, and unify Nigeria’s crisis response.
Information available indicates that all shortlisted entries will undergo a final round of assessment by a distinguished international jury before winners are announced at the 2026 Golden World Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner holding in Athens, Greece later in the year.
This recognition cements Nigeria’s status in global PR, especially as IMPR previously secured the 2025 IPRA Golden World Award for its Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) campaign, adding to multiple SABRE Africa honours.
Having Nigerian finalists highlights the power of strategic communication in driving economic reform, crisis management, digital governance, and building institutional trust.
Now, the global spotlight is on! An elite international jury will decide if the CBN trust-restoration initiative and the AI-Driven Crisis Hub will etch their names alongside the world’s most innovative PR campaigns recognized by the IPRA for advancing excellence and innovation in communication practice worldwide.
