The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, has urged young media professionals to exercise responsibility in reporting, saying persistent negative narratives about Nigeria threaten the country’s image, investment prospects and development.
Ndace made the call on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the 10-member Abuja cohort of the 2026 PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship at the headquarters of VON in Abuja.
He stressed that career growth in journalism and communication is built on mentorship and service to others.
“True professional success should not be measured solely by individual accomplishments, but by the number of lives you positively influence along the way,” Ndace said.
He challenged the participants to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, particularly in the use of digital and social media.
Ndace cautioned the participants against the growing tendency to amplify negative stories about Nigeria online, noting that such content fuels perceptions that can discourage investment, tourism and national development.
“Journalists, PR practitioners and content creators must report objectively, while remaining conscious of the broader implications of the narratives we project about our country.”
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Ndace added that the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence, digital platforms and user-generated content makes it more critical for communicators to distinguish verified information from misinformation, disinformation and emotionally driven content.
He commended the organisers of the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship for investing in the next generation of media professionals, and urged the fellows to maximise the programme.
He described the fellowship as “a valuable platform for bridging classroom learning and professional practice, while nurturing ethical, competent and innovative communicators.”
The visit was part of the fellowship’s experiential learning programme, aimed at exposing participants to the operations of Voice of Nigeria.
Also present were VON’s Head of Digital Media, Qasim Akinreti, and the DG’s Technical Assistant, Abdul Mohammed Isa, who engaged the fellows on contemporary broadcasting and the evolving media landscape.
The PRNigeria delegation was led by Mohammed Dahiru Lawal, Head of Innovation and Special Projects, with Zekeri Idakwo Laruba, Assistant Editor of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, in attendance.
The fully funded two-week residential programme by PRNigeria prepares young Nigerians for careers in journalism, public relations, strategic communication, fact-checking and digital media through intensive training, newsroom mentorship and institutional visits.
Organised by Image Merchants Promotion Limited, publishers of PRNigeria, Economic Confidential and Spokespersons Digest, the PRNigeria Young Communication Fellowship is now in its third edition
It admits 30 participants annually — 10 each from Abuja, Ilorin and Kano for practical training in news writing, multimedia storytelling, crisis communication, public speaking, media law, AI in journalism and reputation management.
The 2026 edition received 691 applications for 30 slots.
