CJID Staff Member Wins Commonwealth Scholarship to Study in the UK

Ijeoma Okereke-Adagba, a Project Manager at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), has been awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to pursue an M.A. in Media Practice for Development and Social Change at the University of Sussex, in recognition of her work in social accountability, gender equality, and civic participation in Nigeria.

Ijeoma Okereke-Adagba, a Project Manager at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), has been selected from thousands of applicants for the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarships, alongside 80 others.

This award acknowledges her impactful work in promoting social accountability, civic participation, and gender equality in Nigeria.

The scholarship will enable Ms. Okereke-Adagba to pursue an M.A. in Media Practice for Development and Social Change at the University of Sussex, a globally recognized leader in development studies. She expressed her excitement, calling it a “dream come true,” after several years of applying for scholarships without success.

Ms. Okereke-Adagba, who graduated with a First Class in Mass Communication from the University of Jos, began her journalism career as a campus journalist, later joining CJID where she leads the UDEME project, holding the government accountable for public funds spent on development projects. Her work has empowered student journalists to play an active role in ensuring government transparency.

In 2022, she represented Nigeria at the World Forum for Democracy and became the first Youth Delegate Rapporteur. She is also a member of the African Feminist Macroeconomy Academy (AFMA) and the Report Women Network through the Female Reporters Leadership Programme (FRLP). Her recent research examines the impact of motherhood on female journalists’ careers in Nigeria, advocating for gender-friendly media workplaces.

Congratulating her on the scholarship, CJID’s Executive Director, Akintunde Babatunde, praised her for her leadership and teamwork, noting that CJID not only supports the media but also nurtures exceptional talent.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, PREMIUM TIMES