UK picks Royal Ibeh, nine other Nigerian journalists for London science reporting exchange

The United Kingdom has selected Royal Ibeh, head of Technology Desk at BusinessDay, and nine other Nigerian journalists for a London Knowledge Exchange visit under the UK Media Excellence for Emerging Technology (UK MEET) Fellowship 2026, following an intensive week of training on science, technology and innovation reporting in Abuja.

Ibeh was selected alongside Habeeb Adisa, Taiwo Fatola, Nkoli Omhoudu, Victor Nwachukwu, Dare Akogun, Temitayo Jaiyeola, Mariya Shuaibu Suleiman, Adebola Giwa and Zainab Akande as the 10 fellows chosen to advance 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.

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The London Knowledge Exchange 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 (FCDO), in partnership with Imperial College London, Imperial Global and other participating institutions.

During 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.

Fellows also participated in a live news simulation that tested their ability to assess information, make editorial decisions under pressure and maintain accuracy during election periods.

Vicky Seymour, British deputy high commissioner, 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 strengthen the institutions and professionals helping these fields deliver meaningful impact.

She congratulated all 28 participants, noting that the programme had exposed them to complex subjects and reinforced the importance of credible reporting in explaining the opportunities and risks associated with 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.

Ijeoma Agwu, programme, policy and partnerships manager for West Africa at the FCDO, 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.

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

The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology also 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 Chioma Angela Okieke, special assistant to the minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, the ministry said Nigeria’s ambition to build a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy required science, technology and innovation to be embedded across sectors.

The ministry highlighted proposed initiatives to strengthen research funding and commercialisation, including a framework for a Nigerian research and development fund and the Energised Commercialisation Map (ECON), which is intended to connect promising innovations with the resources needed to reach the market.

It also disclosed that nearly 6,000 applications had been received for a youth-focused innovation programme, although resource constraints limited the number of participants selected for training to approximately 2,000.

The ministry urged journalists to report on researchers, inventors, technology entrepreneurs and other ecosystem stakeholders whose work could contribute to national development, while maintaining their independence and critical scrutiny.

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

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She said the fellowship would provide opportunities for participants to engage researchers, scientists and experts through connections established during the programme.

The second edition of the UK MEET Fellowship brought together journalists and content creators from different parts of Nigeria to strengthen reporting on emerging technologies and build professional relationships across newsrooms and institutions.

For the 10 selected fellows, the London exchange represents the next stage of a programme intended to strengthen science journalism and help audiences better understand the technologies, research and innovations influencing their lives.