FG, NUJ Harp on Media Integrity as PRNigeria Inducts 10 New Communication Fellows
By Lawal Dahiru Mamman,
The Federal Government and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have stressed the need for stronger media integrity and ethical practice as PRNigeria, a flagship publication of the Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), on Friday, inducted a new set of Communication Fellows in Abuja.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 2025 PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship yesterday at the PRNigeria Corporate Office, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, IMPR for its commitment to mentoring young communicators across the country.
Represented by the Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, the minister said initiatives like the fellowship were shaping the next generation of professionals who would strengthen Nigeria’s communication landscape.
“This capacity-building initiative offers not only an opportunity to mentor, train, and empower young graduates, it also provides a rich reservoir of future talents who will nourish our industry,” he said.
He urged the fellows to brace for the challenges of the industry, warning that journalism in Nigeria remains highly competitive and vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation.
“You are venturing into a field rife with fake news. You must be discerning and circumspect, especially in these days of AI,” he cautioned, while advising them to build strong professional networks.
President of the NUJ, Alhassan Adamu Yahya, also challenged the fellows to understand their purpose in choosing journalism and communication as a career.
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“Know the why of choosing journalism, public relations or any field in the communication industry. Although there is no quick cash, it builds the nation,” he said.
Yahya pledged the NUJ’s collaboration with IMPR in future editions of the fellowship and urged the fellows to uphold national security and ethics in their reporting.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of Daily Nigerian, Ja’afar Ja’afar, warned the young graduates about the growing threat of artificial intelligence and deepfakes. He stressed the importance of networking, focus, and responsible investigative reporting.
“Be mindful of deepfakes and AI. It is important to create a niche and make contacts, because contacts make the journalist and journalism,” he said.
He advised investigative journalists to use the Freedom of Information Act responsibly, saying the aim should be accountability, not humiliation.
“Use it to hold leaders accountable because they work for the people,” he added.
CEO of IMPR and the Editor-in-chief of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to grooming young communicators. He thanked the Minister of Information, NUJ leadership, and media professionals for their support.
Shuaib explained that the Abuja cohort, like previous editions in Kwara and Kano States, was designed to equip young communicators with practical skills in journalism, strategic communication, social media management, and artificial intelligence.
Speaking on behalf of the graduating fellows, Humaid Rabiu Shehu expressed gratitude to IMPR and the mentors, promising that the knowledge gained would be deployed toward national development.
“The knowledge we have acquired will remain a valuable asset to contribute to nation-building and global discourse,” he said.
