Athena Centre’s Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellowship programme begins
By Editor
THE Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has announced the commencement of the Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellowship Programme, scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The Managing Director and CEO of Anchoria Advisory Services Limited, Mr. Sam Chidoka, while stressing the importance of the Fellowship said, “Sustainable impact begins with capable minds. This fellowship is an investment in the people who will shape Nigeria’s policy future.”
Following a competitive national selection process, 14 outstanding young Nigerians have been admitted into the 2026 cohort. The fellows were selected based on academic excellence, leadership potential, and demonstrated interest in governance and public policy.
The cohort reflects a broad national representation across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. From the Southeast are Kosisochukwu Praise Bosah, Adaobi Patience Ayogu, and Daniel Kelechi Nnamani. The Southwest is represented by Ezekiel Adeshina Adebisi and Eunice Iyanuoluwa Olasunkanmi, while the South-South includes Angelica Onagiekhuwemhe Enegbuma and Shedrack James Owen. From the Northwest, the selected fellows are Yahaya Abubakar, Hassan Suleiman Haruna, and Rashida Bafashi Abubakar. The Northeast is represented by Gabriel Mohammed Shuwa and Mohammed Baba Kale, while the North-Central includes Augustina Enuwa Abakpa and Muhammad Saheed Afodun.
The fellows represent a diverse mix of academic disciplines—including political science, law, mass communication, medicine, and the sciences—and are drawn from leading Nigerian universities. They include undergraduates, postgraduate students, and early-career professionals.
The Athena-Anchoria Junior Fellowship Programme is a six-month leadership and policy development initiative, designed to build a pipeline of young, reform-oriented leaders. The programme will commence with virtual learning sessions, followed by continuous engagement, and will culminate in an immersive in-person session at the end of the cycle.
Through structured training, mentorship, and practical policy engagement, fellows will gain exposure to real-world governance challenges and institutional reform strategies. The commencement of the 2026 cohort underscores Athena Centre’s continued commitment to strengthening policy capacity and nurturing the next generation of leaders in Nigeria, the Media and Communications Officer, Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Mr. Paul Liam, said.
The centre can be reached at info.centre@athenacentre.org and www.athenacentre.org
