A civil society organisation, Hope Behind Bars Africa (HBBA), with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, has launched a fellowship programme aimed at funding civic projects led by young Nigerians in North-central Nigeria.
The initiative, known as the Civic Influencers Fellowship (CIF), will support 12 young Nigerians aged between 18 and 25 with a total grant of N15 million to design and implement projects that promote civic awareness, democratic participation and community engagement.
The organisation said the programme is designed to empower young people who already have influence within digital spaces to use their platforms to strengthen civic participation and encourage greater involvement in governance.
The development was disclosed in a press statement signed by HBBA’s Communications Officer, Ogechi Ogwuma.
According to the organisation, the fellowship focuses on supporting young Nigerians who can bridge the gap between citizens and democratic institutions, particularly among communities that are often disconnected from formal civic processes.
“The programme was created to nurture civic participation among young Nigerians whose lives and work are increasingly shaped by digital spaces and trusted voices within them,” the statement said.
HBBA explained that many young influencers command large online audiences and are therefore in a unique position to shape civic conversations, raise awareness about governance issues and encourage people to participate in democratic processes.
Through the fellowship, selected participants will receive technical training, financial support and institutional backing to implement civic-focused initiatives within their communities.
The programme began with a five-day residential bootcamp held in Abuja from March 1 to March 5, where the selected fellows underwent intensive training sessions led by experts.
During the training, participants were introduced to various topics designed to strengthen their capacity to drive civic influence and community engagement.
The sessions covered areas such as personal brand development, storytelling and social media for civic influence, policy literacy, gender mainstreaming, electoral management in civic engagement, artificial intelligence and technology, and strategies for sustaining civic impact.
Participants also received guidance on how to mobilise resources and effectively manage civic projects aimed at promoting democratic participation.
At the end of the bootcamp, the fellows presented proposals outlining the civic projects they intend to implement in their communities.
The best proposals were selected and awarded sub-grants from the N15 million funding pool provided for the programme.
HBBA said the fellows were selected from across North-central Nigeria and represent diverse academic and professional backgrounds including law, public health, climate science, education, communications, the arts and community development.
The selected fellows include Hauwa Abubakar, Maryam Gidado, Chidera Nwokike, Godwin Lasisi, Kemisola Ipele, Amuda Abbas Oluwadamilola, Alih Zainab Inikpi, Joseph Agama, Adole Joseph, Aanuoluwapo Emmanuel, Adeiza Jeffrey Umoru and Akinfe Temitayo David.
HBBA noted that the support provided by the Royal Norwegian Embassy highlights ongoing international partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s civil society space and promoting citizen participation in governance.
According to the organisation, the collaboration reflects a shared belief that young people can play a critical role in improving civic engagement when given the right tools and opportunities.
Speaking on the initiative, HBBA’s Founder and Executive Director, Funke Adeoye, emphasised the importance of youth influence in shaping civic conversations and democratic participation.
“The question is not whether influence exists but who wields it, and to what end,” she said.
Also speaking, Norway’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, encouraged young Nigerians to take active responsibility for shaping the country’s democratic future.
“You are young, and the future belongs to you. What you want to do with it is in your hands today,” he said.
According to HBBA, the fellows will spend the next six months implementing civic projects across communities in North-central Nigeria.
The organisation explained that the projects will combine digital outreach with grassroots engagement in order to expand civic awareness and encourage greater citizen participation in governance.
