The Nation’s reporter Hannah Ojo has been named as one of the fifteen 2018 fellows for United Nation’s Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship.
The programme is an opportunity for young journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to cover the United Nations.
Hosted every fall at UN Headquarters, the programme brings a select group of journalists to New York for the opening of the General Assembly.
During the three-week programme, fellows have an opportunity to attend special briefings, interview senior officials and exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world.
A data enthusiast with a penchant for development and social justice issues, Ojo has worked with Code for Africa to deliver data driven reports on water, sanitation and hygiene in Nigeria’s biggest cities.
She is a recipient of the 2017 Newscorp Fellowship hosted by The Times of London and The Wall Street Journal, and is an alumnus of the U.S. Department of State Foreign Press Centers reporting tour on human trafficking.
During this year’s General Assembly scheduled for September 15 – October 6 in New York, Ojo plans to cover implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 3 (health), 4 (education) and 6 (clean water and sanitation).
In previous years, fellows have met with the UN Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly and permanent representatives to the United Nations.
The programme also arranges visits to various news organizations, such as the New York Times, Democracy Now! and WNYC radio.
The Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship was mandated in December 1980 by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/201.
Formerly known as the DPI Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries, the programme was renamed in 2003 in honor of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-year-old Jordanian public information officer who was killed in the 19 August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
Since its founding in 1981, the fellowship has been awarded to 581 journalists from 168 countries.
Upon completion of the programme, fellows are expected to continue working in journalism and promote better understanding of the United Nations in their home countries.
The programme does not provide basic skills training, as all fellows are working journalists.
The Fellowship covers travel to New York and provides a daily subsistence allowance to cover accommodation and related expenses.