PUNCH journalist, nine others for UK fellowship

The United Kingdom has selected Dare Akogun, a Chief Correspondent with PUNCH Weekend Titles, and nine other Nigerian journalists for a London Knowledge Exchange visit under the UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technology Fellowship 2026.

The selection followed an intensive week of training on science, technology, and innovation reporting in Abuja.

Akogun was selected alongside Habeeb Adisa, Adebola Giwa, Zainab Akande, Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman, Nkoli Omhoudu, Taiwo Fatola, Temitayo Jaiyeola, and Victor Nwachukwu as one of 10 fellows advancing to the next stage of the programme.

The selection followed a pitch competition on the final day of the Nigeria residential phase, which brought together 28 journalists and content creators for practical training, expert discussions, and editorial exercises on emerging technologies.

At the closing ceremony, the British Deputy High Commissioner, Vicky Seymour, said credible journalism had become increasingly important as emerging technologies played a greater role in people’s everyday lives.

Seymour said the UK was proud to support the fellowship as part of its commitment to working with Nigeria to advance science, technology, and innovation, and to strengthen the institutions and professionals helping these fields deliver meaningful impact.

She congratulated all 28 participants and the 10 selected fellows on the London exchange programme, noting that the initiative exposed them to complex subjects and reinforced the importance of credible reporting in explaining the opportunities and risks of emerging technologies.

She also stressed that the fellowship’s value extended beyond the London visit, describing the programme as the beginning of a network of journalists connected by a shared interest in science, technology, and innovation reporting.

Also speaking, the Policy and Partnerships Manager for West Africa at the FCDO, Ijeoma Agwu, said the initiative was designed not merely to increase the volume of science and technology coverage, but to improve its quality and deepen public understanding.

She said the UK Government and its partners expected a journalistic return on their investment, encouraging fellows to move beyond familiar and often sensational subjects to investigate scientific and technological developments that could shape people’s lives.

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“The presentations may end here, but the impact begins with the next story you tell,” Agwu said.

The Associate Director of Imperial Global Ghana, Amma Boakye-Danquah, praised the fellows for their participation and engagement, describing the cohort as the most engaged group of journalists the programme had hosted.

The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, called on journalists to help communicate Nigeria’s research and innovation priorities to the public, stressing that effective reporting could connect scientific discoveries with economic opportunities.

Represented by his special assistant, Chioma Okieke, the minister said Nigeria’s ambition to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy required science, technology, and innovation to be embedded across sectors.

At the Abuja programme, fellows explored artificial intelligence, digital health, biomedical research, climate change, energy, electronic waste, and financial technology, among other subjects.

The training focused on translating complex scientific and technological developments into accessible, evidence-based journalism.

A major component of the final day was a session on election reporting, which examined the implications of election technology, deepfakes, and verification for journalists covering political contests.

The London Knowledge Exchange, supported by Imperial College London, is expected to provide the selected journalists with opportunities to engage researchers, scientists, and other experts, helping them develop stories that improve public understanding of the scientific and technological changes shaping society.

The fellowship is supported by the UK Government through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, in partnership with Imperial College London, Imperial Global, and other participating institutions.