PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship Attracts 691 Applicants for 30 Slots
The organisers of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (PYCF) have closed applications for the 2026 edition, recording an overwhelming national response with 691 young Nigerians competing for just 30 fellowship slots across the programme’s three training centres in Abuja, Ilorin and Kano.
The fellowship, now in its third edition, will admit 10 participants each into the three centres for an intensive capacity-building programme designed to develop the next generation of ethical journalists, strategic communicators, public relations practitioners, fact-checkers and digital media professionals.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Arewa Media Summit in Kano, the Fellowship Coordinator, Mallam Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, described the volume and diversity of applications as a strong endorsement of the programme’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading youth communication development initiatives.
He disclosed that the applications reflected broad national participation, with candidates drawn from all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, underscoring the Fellowship’s expanding reach and relevance.
According to Lawal, the majority of applicants were between 20 and 30 years old, although the Fellowship also attracted a number of older graduates seeking to strengthen their communication and leadership skills.
He noted that while male applicants accounted for the larger proportion of submissions, female participation remained impressive across several states, reflecting the programme’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion within Nigeria’s communication profession.
The Fellowship Coordinator further revealed that applicants came from every geopolitical zone, with the North-West, North-East and North-Central recording the highest number of entries.
Among the three training locations, Kano emerged as the most preferred centre, followed by Abuja and Ilorin.
Lawal said the educational backgrounds of applicants demonstrated the programme’s national appeal, with candidates possessing qualifications ranging from National Diploma (ND) and Diploma certificates to Higher National Diploma (HND), Bachelor’s degrees, Law degrees (LL.B) and various postgraduate qualifications.
The applicants also represented a wide spectrum of tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other specialised institutions across the country.
He explained that the application data would guide the selection process to ensure fairness, inclusiveness and national balance.
According to him, the final selection will be based on criteria that promote youth empowerment, gender equity, academic diversity and equitable geopolitical representation, while identifying candidates with the passion and potential to become future leaders in journalism, public relations and strategic communication.
Lawal noted that this year’s Fellowship is themed “Ethical Communication in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” reflecting the growing need to equip young professionals with the skills required to navigate artificial intelligence, digital disruption, misinformation and emerging communication technologies.
He added that successful fellows will undergo intensive training featuring expert-led masterclasses, practical newsroom and communication assignments, mentorship sessions, institutional visits and professional networking opportunities designed to prepare them for careers in the rapidly evolving media and communication landscape.
The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship, organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, has earned national and international recognition, including being shortlisted for the 2025 SABRE African PR Awards. The initiative has also received support from the MacArthur Foundation, Professor Pantami Foundation and donation of training facility in Lugbe Abuja by the founder of Maryam Abacha University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Prof Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo further reinforcing its credibility as a platform for nurturing young communication professionals in Nigeria.
