Taiwo Fatola and nine other journalists have been selected for a knowledge exchange visit to Imperial College London under the UK Media Excellence in Emerging Technologies (UK MEET) Fellowship.
The 10 journalists were selected from 28 fellows who participated in the weeklong Nigerian residential programme, following a live pitching competition held on Friday afternoon.
Sixteen fellows had earlier been shortlisted for the semi-final stage before presenting their pitches for the final selection. The successful candidates were announced at the programme’s closing ceremony on Friday evening, witnessed by British Deputy High Commissioner, Vicky Seymour.
The other selected journalists are Zainab Akande, Temitayo Jaiyeola, Dare Akogun, Habeeb Adisa, Royal Ibeh, Adebola Giwa, Nkoli Omhoudu, Victor Nwachukwu and Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman.
The fellowship was convened by the British High Commission Abuja in partnership with Imperial Global Ghana to strengthen journalism on emerging technologies and improve public understanding of scientific and technological developments.
Amma Boakye-Danquah, Associate Director of Imperial Global Ghana, commended the fellows for their active participation and commitment throughout the programme.
Ijeoma Agwu, Programme, Policy and Partnerships Manager for West Africa at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said the initiative was designed to improve its quality and deepen public understanding.
She said the UK Government and its partners expected tangible journalistic outcomes from their investment in the programme. She encouraged fellows to move beyond familiar and sensationalised subjects to investigate scientific and technological developments with meaningful implications for people’s lives.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Udeh, urged journalists to help communicate the country’s research and innovation priorities to the public. Udeh, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Chioma Okiekie, said effective science reporting could connect scientific discoveries with economic opportunities.
He added that Nigeria’s ambition to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy required science, technology and innovation to be integrated across sectors.
The London knowledge exchange visit will provide the selected fellows with an opportunity to engage with the UK’s science and technology ecosystem and deepen their understanding of emerging technologies and their implications for society.
