Ten young Nigerians have completed the 2026 Abuja cohort of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship, with the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, describing the programme as an important investment in the future of journalism and strategic communication.
The graduates were celebrated on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the newly commissioned PRNigeria Academy in Lugbe, Abuja, after completing a two-week intensive residential programme focused on practical communication skills.
Kristina Reports learnt that the fellowship exposed participants to journalism, public relations, strategic communication, fact-checking, digital media, multimedia storytelling and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, the NUJ President urged the graduates to use their professional skills to contribute positively to national development, stressing that mentorship and continuous learning remain essential for anyone seeking a lasting career in journalism and communication.
Abdullahi also commended Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons Digest, for sustaining the fellowship and called for stronger collaboration with the NUJ to expand the programme and increase the number of beneficiaries in subsequent editions.
The 2026 fellowship attracted 691 applications from across Nigeria, but only 30 candidates were selected for training, with 10 participants assigned to each of the three centres in Abuja, Kano and Ilorin.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IMPR, Yushau A. Shuaib, said the fellowship was created to bridge the gap between classroom learning and the practical demands of the modern communication industry.
He explained that the training included newsroom simulations, news gathering, editing, proofreading, investigative and development journalism, crisis communication, fact-checking, multimedia storytelling and emerging technologies.
Shuaib also urged the graduates to embrace continuous learning and use social media responsibly, particularly at a time when misinformation and artificial intelligence-generated content are creating new challenges for journalists and communication professionals.
The programme, launched in 2024, is now in its third edition and has evolved into a fully funded residential fellowship designed to prepare young Nigerians for careers in journalism, public relations, strategic communication, fact-checking and digital media.
The 2026 Abuja cohort’s Best Fellow, Mariya Bagudo, described the recognition as both humbling and motivating, expressing appreciation to the organisers, mentors and trainers for strengthening her professional skills and understanding of ethical journalism.
The graduation marks the completion of the Abuja phase of the 2026 fellowship, with the organisers expected to continue expanding the programme’s reach and professional development opportunities for young communication practitioners across Nigeria.
