Participants of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship have concluded a series of high-level institutional tours, featuring intensive mentorship sessions with the former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and the Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Malam Jibrin Baba Ndace.

The engagements in Abuja focused on media ethics, professionalism, artificial intelligence, national security, and the future of communication practice—further strengthening the Fellowship’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost grooming platforms for young media talents. The tours were coordinated by Dahiru Lawal, Head of Special Projects and Fact-Check Desk at the PRNigeria Centre, and Zekeri Laruba, the Fellowship Coordinator.

While receiving the fellows, Professor Pantami underscored the importance of structured mentorship, describing it as the fastest route for young professionals to acquire wisdom that ordinarily takes decades to gather. He noted that no successful person is self-made, stressing that individuals grow faster when guided by those who have walked the path before them.

Pantami outlined the key qualities required in today’s media practitioners, including curiosity, objectivity, accuracy, fairness, integrity, and strong research skills. He warned against compromising ethical standards for financial rewards, political influence, or personal favours. Although he acknowledged artificial intelligence as a helpful verification tool, he insisted that AI cannot replace primary data gathering, ethical judgment, or human intuition.

The professor of Cybersecurity encouraged the fellows to continuously upskill, reskill, and cross-skill, adding that modern communicators must be multidisciplinary to remain competitive. He also observed that Nigeria’s security challenges can be tackled more effectively through technology-driven intelligence and professional conduct within security agencies.

In his mentorship session, VON Director-General Jibrin Ndace urged the fellows to take their professional paths seriously and appreciate the access and influence that journalism and public relations provide. He cautioned them against misinformation, advising them to deepen their knowledge about the country and avoid sharing unverified content. According to him, media credibility depends on accuracy, restraint, and responsibility.

Ndace emphasised the importance of human relationships, social intelligence, and continuous self-development. He explained that mentorship opens doors to opportunities, recommendations, and even forgiveness in critical moments. He commended Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria, for its longstanding commitment to grooming young communication professionals, describing the fellows as a representation of the nation’s potential.

During the visit, the fellows toured key VON facilities, including the newsroom, digital media department, and control room, gaining a firsthand understanding of global broadcasting operations.

The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship is a career-building programme for young Nigerian graduates aged 20 to 30 who are passionate about journalism, public relations, and digital communication. Organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and other titles, the fellowship runs across Abuja, Kano, and Ilorin. It focuses on strategic communication, public relations, journalism, fact-checking, social media management, and the application of AI in modern journalism. The programme blends lectures, workshops with industry leaders, hands-on training, and media excursions to provide a comprehensive and practical learning experience.

Supported by mentorship from some of Nigeria’s most respected communication experts, the programme continues to nurture a new generation of ethical, innovative, and socially responsible communicators.

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has further strengthened its partnership with the Voice Of Nigeria in projecting the agenda of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth by leveraging on digital literacy and cultivating talent growth of its citizens by mitigating disinformation and misinformation that could pose a threat to national economic stability.

This was made known when the NITDA DG, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, and his management team played host to a delegation from VON led by its newly appointed Director General, Jibrin Baba Ndace to the corporate headquarters of the Agency in Abuja.

Outlining its newly crafted ambitious Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (2024-2027l which is aimed at propelling Nigeria into the forefront of digital transformation, the NITDA DG emphasised the critical role of collaboration, support, and guidance in achieving the objectives of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mr. Inuwa disclosed that in supporting these objectives, NITDA has restructured its SRAP into 8 pillars towards achieving 95% digital literacy by 2030 and positioning Nigeria as a leading technology hub in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Robotics, and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles amongst other emerging technologies.

“As we digitise our economy, we need our citizens to have access and use these digital devices and platforms safely as well as responsibly and the only way to achieve that is through digital literacy”, he noted.

He stated that the Agency is working with the Ministry of Education, the United Kingdom government, and GIZ to develop National Digital Literacy Standards that will aid Nigerian youths in obtaining certifications with local institutions.

Recognising the importance of strategic partnerships in driving these initiatives with key stakeholders which include the media, Inuwa stated that collaboration with VON would create a medium and wider reach in communicating the government’s transformation goals to the public rather than fake news pervading the society.

“We are thinking of developing content in local languages on TV and radio stations so that we can reach as many people as possible and I think that is an area of collaboration where we can work together”, Inuwa added.

Inuwa particularly emphasised the need to effectively publicise the various efforts and policies deployed by the present administration in alleviating poverty and boosting the economic growth of the nation in addition to educating the populace on the safe and responsible use of digital technologies which will consequently shield them from the social engineering gimmicks used by cyber manipulators.

While expressing his excitement at the collaboration with VON which he believes would help the Agency in delivering its mandate beyond expectations and propelling the nation into a digital future, Inuwa gave assurances of the Agency’s support to the visitors in areas of digital infrastructure and capacity building development.

In his earlier remark, Mr Ndace expressed gratitude to the NITDA DG and the entire NITDA management for the support that VON has enjoyed from the Agency thus far.
He said that the various milestones achieved by the Agency under the leadership of the present Director General are not only commendable but inspiring to other MDAs.

Ndace however pleaded for more support and a deepened collaboration with NITDA to fully realise the goals and objectives of the present administration.

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The newly-appointed Director General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has promised to work with the Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential to actualize his vision for the federal information agency.

Ndace made the pledge when he received a delegation of PRNigeria staff, led by its Editor-in-Chief, Mallam Yushau Shuaib, at his office in Abuja on Tuesday.

The new VON Director General, an award-winning journalist and security expert with a well-established reputation in the Nigerian security sector, in his welcome remarks, credited much of his success to Mallam Shuaib’s expertise and strategic thinking.

Ndace, described Mallam Shuaib as a consummate public relations expert, saying, “I will always count on your suggestions and support. My success depends on leveraging on supports and guidances from individuals and groups like you.”

The VON boss, while speaking further, urged the IMPR staff to remain focused, committed and dedicated to their organisation’s growth, noting that loyalty pays.

Earlier in his remarks, Mallam Shuaib congratulated Ndace on his appointment, describing him as a prolific journalist who has carved a niche for himself.

He said: “Your expertise, experience and loyalty are second to none. Your success stories are well-documented in many books, including one on crisis management that I authored. I strongly believe in your capacity to deliver as VON helmsman and I wish you all the best.”

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