Federal Lawmakers Endorse PRNigeria Fellowship, Pledge Support for Youth Empowerment
The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship, an initiative aimed at empowering young Nigerians in civic engagement and democratic communication, has garnered significant support from two federal lawmakers.
The endorsements signal a growing legislative commitment to grassroots media development and youth capacity building across the nation.
Hon. Muktar Tolani Shagaya, who represents the Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has pledged to sponsor the 2025 edition of the fellowship, which will be held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Hosting a delegation from Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, at his National Assembly office, Hon. Shagaya described the PRNigeria fellowship as “an eye-opener” for emerging communicators. He highlighted its remarkable impact on participants from his constituency, citing his Special Assistant on Media, Basheer Luqman, as an example.
“I saw firsthand how my Special Assistant on Media, Basheer Luqman, returned from the last fellowship with renewed perspective and energy,” Hon. Shagaya stated. “By the grace of God, I will sponsor the next edition in Ilorin, not just for the youths of Kwara but to extend its impact across the region.”
Echoing this sentiment, Hon. Sesi Oluwaseun Whingan, representing the Badagry Federal Constituency of Lagos State, also pledged his support for the program. He emphasized that initiatives like the PRNigeria fellowship are “not just training workshops but civic incubators,” capable of fostering a more responsive and professional class of communicators throughout Nigeria.
The IMPR delegation, led by Mr. Zekeri Idakwo Laruba, the Fellowship Coordinator and Assistant Editor of PRNigeria, shared insights into the program’s objectives. Laruba explained that the upcoming edition will build on the success of last year’s pilot, which provided training to 30 young professionals at PRNigeria Centres in Abuja, Kano, and Ilorin.
“As media continues to shape public perception and influence policy, there is urgent need to equip the next generation of communicators with values, vision, and voice. That’s what this fellowship is about,” Laruba affirmed.
The PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship is a youth-focused capacity-building program designed to train aspiring journalists, media aides, and public relations professionals in strategic communication, fact-checking, and responsible media reporting. With its second edition slated for later this year, the initiative is gaining traction as a vital civic pipeline, equipping young Nigerians with stronger ethical grounding and technical skills to enter governance, media, and public service.
With cross-regional legislative backing, the fellowship is steadily gaining national recognition as a homegrown strategy for youth empowerment and building institutional trust, one training cohort at a time.