Widely regarded for her humility, professionalism and generosity of spirit, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of the Corporate Communications and Media Relations Department of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has been recognised as one of Nigeria’s leading public relations professionals after earning a place on the 2026 PR Power List. The honour celebrates her contributions to strategic communications and her role in advancing public sector communications in Nigeria.
The annual list, compiled by GLG Communications in partnership with The Guardian to mark World PR Day, recognises 50 outstanding public relations practitioners in Nigeria and the diaspora for their contributions to strategic communications, reputation management and the advancement of the profession over the past year.
Umar also received additional recognition at the 2026 PR Power List Soirée and Awards held at the Alliance Française, Ikoyi, Lagos, where she was unveiled as one of the cover personalities for the Glazia Magazine PR Power List Special Issue.
Reacting to the recognition, Umar described the honour as both humbling and inspiring, saying the magazine cover feature came as an unexpected surprise.
“I am deeply honoured to be recognised on the 2026 PR Power List and to feature on the cover of Glazia Magazine alongside accomplished professionals in the communications industry,” she said.
She attributed the recognition to the support and leadership of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, noting that the agency’s work environment has enabled its communications team to effectively project Nigeria’s digital economy agenda and technology-driven initiatives.
According to her, the recognition reflects the collective efforts of the NITDA communications team in promoting the agency’s programmes and amplifying the impact of government policies aimed at accelerating digital transformation.
A seasoned communications strategist, Umar is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the African Public Relations Association (APRA) and the Chartered Institute of Corporate Administration (CICA).
She has led NITDA’s corporate communications and media engagement efforts, supporting the agency’s initiatives in digital literacy, innovation, startup development and the implementation of national information technology policies.
According to the organisers, the 2026 PR Power List was determined through an independent selection process conducted by an international panel of judges.
They noted that this year’s honourees were recognised for raising professional standards, driving innovation in strategic communications and making measurable contributions to the growth of the public relations profession.
