Khadijah Aliyu Makes Cut in UK-Backed Tech Journalism Fellowship
By Ahmad Tijjani Abdul
KANO — Khadijah Aliyu of Radio Nigeria Kaduna has secured a place in the 2026 UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technology (UK-MEET) Fellowship.
Aliyu’s selection places her among a limited group of applicants chosen for a programme that target improving how journalists investigate, interpret and report on emerging technologies and their impact on society.
The fellowship is delivered by Imperial College London through Imperial Global Ghana, with support from the British High Commission.
Organisers said only 13 per cent of applicants were accepted, following an assessment process in which two independent reviewers evaluated each eligible application.
The programme comes amid growing public interest in artificial intelligence, climate technology and health innovation, fields in which scientific claims and technological breakthroughs increasingly require careful scrutiny by journalists.
Through residential training in Abuja, Aliyu and other selected fellows will engage with researchers, participate in practical reporting exercises and develop story proposals examining the real-world implications of emerging technologies.
Beyond introducing participants to new developments, the training will focus on the evidence behind scientific claims. Fellows will learn how to verify technological assertions, interrogate research data and explain complex findings in language that ordinary audiences can readily understand.
For Aliyu, whose interests include scientific advancement and innovations that address societal challenges, the fellowship offers an opportunity to deepen her reporting and explore stories that connect technological progress with people’s everyday experiences.
The organisers will also consider fellows who demonstrate strong application of the training and produce rigorous story pitches for a knowledge exchange programme in London in late November.
Those selected for the exchange are expected to engage with researchers at Imperial College London, gaining further insight into the science behind their proposed reports.
Aliyu’s selection stresses the place of specialised journalism in bridging the gap between scientific research and public understanding, particularly as emerging technologies shape conversations about healthcare, climate challenges and national development.