Two staff members of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) have been selected for the 2026 UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technology (UK-MEET) Fellowship.
They are Chinasa Ossai, an online editor at FRCN Headquarters, Abuja, and Khadijah Aliyu, a Radio Nigeria journalist based in Kano.
Their selection followed a competitive process that attracted more than 500 applications from journalists and content creators across Nigeria and Ghana.
The fellowship will be delivered by Imperial College London through Imperial Global Ghana, with support from the British High Commission.
According to the organisers, only 13 per cent of applicants were accepted, with every eligible application independently assessed by two reviewers.
The fellowship is designed to strengthen journalists’ capacity to report on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, climate technology and health innovation.
The in-country residential programme will take place in Abuja, bringing together selected fellows for engagements with researchers, practical reporting sessions and opportunities to develop their story ideas.
During the programme, participants will examine how to verify claims about emerging technologies, identify the data behind scientific findings and communicate complex research in ways audiences can understand.
Fellows who demonstrate strong application of the training and develop rigorous story pitches will be considered for a UK Knowledge Exchange in London in late November.
The exchange is expected to provide selected participants with opportunities to engage with researchers at Imperial College London and gain first-hand insight into the science behind their proposed stories.
Ossai reports on science, innovation and technology through her work at FRCN, contributing to public understanding of developments in these fields and their relevance to national development.
Aliyu, who is based in Kano, has a strong interest in reporting scientific advancements, technological developments and innovations that address societal challenges and improve people’s lives.
Both journalists’ selection highlights the role of specialised journalism in making scientific knowledge accessible, scrutinising claims about new technologies and examining how innovation affects society.
The fellowship offers them an opportunity to strengthen their reporting skills, engage with researchers and explore new approaches to covering emerging technologies and their implications for national development.
RN
