NUJ President flags off maiden “PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship” (Pictures)

September 8, 2024

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NUJ President flags off maiden “PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship” (Pictures)

Dr. Chris Isiguzo, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), officially launched the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship at a ceremony held at the Abuja Corporate Headquarters of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential.

This initiative marks a significant step in nurturing the next generation of media and public relations professionals.

Addressing the first cohort of ten selected PRNigeria Communication Fellows, Isiguzo emphasised the growing influence of social media on the media landscape. “The real journalist is the trained journalist. It is important to pick out the fake news and put the real ones out there. We must battle those who are putting out fake news and change the narrative on social media. Your role in this, as the next generation of journalists, is crucial and influential,” he stated.

Isiguzo also underlined the importance of serious commitment to the profession, highlighting journalism’s role in promoting accountability within Nigeria’s democratic framework. “Journalism is a unique profession. Given the circumstances, the law (constitution) has given power to journalists, and this is why we are the linkage or middlemen between the government and the people.”

Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, Chief Executive Officer of Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), welcomed the fellows and provided an overview of the fellowship. He explained the rigorous selection process that sifted through 1,414 entries to choose the top ten candidates. “When we announced the fellowship, within two days, we received 1,414 entries. Due to the competitiveness, the selection process had to use the first-come, first-served principle as the primary criteria for selection,” Shuaib noted.

Shuaib elaborated on the fellowship’s objectives, which include expanding participants’ knowledge in communication, modern methods, and crisis management. “The essence of the Fellowship is to broaden your scope of knowledge in all aspects of communication. While journalism deals with gathering and disseminating information, strategic communication involves being mindful of the kind of information shared to avoid harming the community and those mentioned in the report.”

He also highlighted the inclusion of multimedia sessions and networking opportunities within the programme. “This Fellowship also provides networking opportunities. To facilitate this, we organised a session where you will visit some organisations, including media houses and PR departments, to interact, learn from their practical experiences, and gain hands-on experience.”

The event also featured addresses from Dr. Sule Yau Sule, a seasoned PR practitioner and communication scholar at Bayero University Kano, and Malam Yusuf Alli, a multi-award-winning investigative journalist and Managing Editor at The Nation Newspapers. Both speakers reinforced the importance of ethical journalism and the evolving role of communication professionals in today’s media environment.

The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship aims to empower young professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the dynamic field of communication, contributing to more informed and accountable media practices in Nigeria.

See pictures below: