PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship 2026 attracts 691 applications

The application for the 2026 PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship (PYCF) has closed, with 691 young Nigerians indicating interest in the 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 centres for an intensive capacity-building designed to nurture 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, Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, described the volume and diversity of applications as a strong endorsement of the programme’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading youth communication development initiatives.

Lawal noted that the entries reflected national spread, with candidates applying from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory. The majority were between 20 and 30 years old, though the fellowship equally attracts older graduates seeking to hone their communication and leadership skills.

Male applicants accounted for the larger proportion of submissions, while female participation remained impressive across several states, affirming the programme’s commitment to promoting gender inclusion in the communication profession.

Applications were filed from the six geopolitical zones, with the North-West, North-East and North-Central recording high numbers. Among the three training locations, Kano emerged as the most preferred, followed by Abuja and Ilorin.

The candidates’ academic credentials range from National Diploma (ND) and Diploma certificates to Higher National Diploma (HND), Bachelor’s degrees, Law degrees (LL.B) and postgraduate qualifications from a vast array of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other specialised institutions.

The application data will guide an exhaustive selection process based on gender equity, academic diversity and fair 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,” highlighting the need to equip budding talents with the skills required to navigate artificial intelligence, digital disruption, misinformation, and emerging communication technologies.

Selected fellows will undergo training featuring expert-led masterclasses, practical newsroom and communication assignments, mentorship sessions, institutional visits and professional networking opportunities to prepare them for careers in the rapidly evolving media and PR 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 the founder of Maryam Abacha University of Nigeria (MAAUN), Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, who donated a training facility in Abuja.