BY JENNIFER EZIMAKOR
The United States Consulate General has unveiled the Adejumobi Adegbite Fellowship for Young Journalists, a year-long program designed to train and mentor early-career reporters in public interest journalism.
Announced on Thursday at the American Corner in Lekki, the fellowship honors the late Adejumobi Adegbite, a former Guardian journalist and U.S. Consulate Information Specialist who passed away in 2023.
U.S. Consul General Rick Swart, who recently assumed office in Lagos, described Adegbite as “a gifted journalist and a passionate advocate for ethical, impactful reporting.”
“Before his untimely passing, he was working on a program to mentor early-career journalists. Today, through this fellowship, his dream is being realised,” Swart said.
Adegbite began his career at The Guardian in 2006 and later held roles with the British High Commission, ECOWAS, the Gates Foundation, and USAID before joining the Consulate in 2021.
The fellowship, established in partnership with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), will provide training in investigative techniques, data journalism, ethics, legal literacy, and multimedia storytelling. FIJ Editor-in-Chief Fisayo Soyombo, an alumnus of a U.S. exchange program, is leading the implementation.
Swart praised Soyombo’s efforts, calling his commitment to investigative reporting “essential to the health of democracy.”
Participants, selected from over 80 applicants nationwide, will attend quarterly workshops and receive ongoing mentorship. Swart commended the fellows for their dedication, noting their “passion and professionalism are the lifeblood of democratic societies.”
“Journalism is not just a profession—it is a public trust. You are the guardians of truth,” he told the fellows.
He also underscored the U.S. Mission’s continued support for the Nigerian media through training and engagement programs, urging journalists to connect with the Public Diplomacy Section for additional resources.
“Congratulations to each of you,” Swart said. “Your voices, stories, and integrity matter. We look forward to seeing the impact of your work through this fellowship.”
