NUJ President Hails PRNigeria Fellowship as 10 Young Communicators Graduate from 2026 Abuja Cohort
The President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, has lauded the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (PYCF) for nurturing the next generation of media and communication professionals, describing the initiative as a vital investment in the future of journalism in Nigeria.
Abdullahi gave the commendation at the graduation ceremony of the 2026 Abuja Cohort of the fellowship held at the newly commissioned PRNigeria Academy in Lugbe, Abuja. The academy was donated by the Founder of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, to support the training of young journalists and communication professionals.
Ten young Nigerians graduated from the Abuja centre after completing a two-week intensive residential programme designed to equip participants with practical skills in journalism, public relations, strategic communication, fact-checking, digital media and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The NUJ President commended Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons Digest, for sustaining the fellowship and urged stronger collaboration with the union to expand the number of beneficiaries annually.
He described mentorship as indispensable to the growth of journalism and encouraged the graduates to become professionals whose work would advance national development.
“You must understand your purpose, create value and develop innovations that promote national interest, security and unity. Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we all have a responsibility to contribute positively to its development,” Abdullahi said.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of IMPR, Alhaji Yushau A. Shuaib, disclosed that the 2026 edition attracted 691 applications from across the country, with only 30 candidates selected—10 each for the Abuja, Kano and Ilorin centres.
He explained that the fellowship was established to bridge the gap between academic training and the practical demands of modern journalism and strategic communication.
“The fellowship is designed to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and practical communication skills. Many graduates possess theoretical knowledge but lack practical competence in editing, proofreading, news gathering, fact-checking and other core aspects of journalism,” he said.
According to Shuaib, participants also received training in investigative and development journalism, crisis communication, multimedia storytelling and emerging technologies transforming the media landscape.
He noted that the programme places particular emphasis on the responsible application of artificial intelligence, equipping participants with the skills to use AI tools ethically, detect misinformation and improve the quality and credibility of their reports.
Shuaib urged the graduates to embrace continuous learning, collaboration and innovation, stressing that success in today’s communication industry depends on the willingness to read, learn, relearn and adapt to emerging realities.
He also advised young Nigerians to deploy social media responsibly, describing digital platforms as powerful tools for promoting patriotism, national development and constructive public discourse rather than gossip and misinformation.
The IMPR chief executive said the fellowship, now in its third year, has continued to expand through the support of clients, partners and stakeholders who recognise the importance of developing ethical and competent communication professionals.
He revealed that the programme, which initially operated on a non-residential basis, had become fully residential following support from stakeholders, with similar facilities already established in Kano while plans were underway to extend the initiative further.
According to him, eligibility for the fellowship requires applicants to be graduates below the age of 30 who have completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
Chairman of Wonderland Television, Alhaji Ismaila Sani, described the fellowship as a valuable platform for networking, knowledge sharing and professional growth.
He encouraged the graduates to remain creative, embrace lifelong learning and adapt to the rapidly evolving communication industry, assuring them of continued support from Image Merchants.
Also speaking, the 2025 Best Fellow, Miss Oyeyemi Abolade, reflected on the demanding nature of the fellowship, noting that it required discipline, sacrifice and commitment through rigorous reading, research, writing and field assignments.
She urged the new graduates to nurture the relationships built during the programme, describing professional networks as essential for career growth and success in journalism.
Emerging as the Best Fellow of the 2026 Abuja Cohort, Mariya Bagudo described the recognition as both humbling and inspiring.
She expressed gratitude to the organisers, trainers, mentors and fellow participants for contributing to her personal and professional development, saying the fellowship had significantly strengthened her communication skills and broadened her understanding of ethical journalism and strategic communication.
Launched in 2024 by Image Merchants Promotion Limited, the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship has rapidly emerged as one of Nigeria’s most competitive media mentorship programmes. It provides fully funded residential training in journalism, public relations, crisis communication, fact-checking, multimedia storytelling and artificial intelligence, with fellows selected annually from Abuja, Kano and Ilorin. The programme continues to produce young professionals who are contributing to newsrooms, corporate communication, public relations and media organisations across the country.
