UK Opens 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Applications for Nigerians - How to Apply - Newstrends
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UK Opens 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Applications for Nigerians – How to Apply

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UK Opens 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Applications for Nigerians - How to Apply

UK Opens 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Applications for Nigerians – How to Apply

The United Kingdom has opened applications for the 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, offering fully funded opportunities for mid-career professionals and university academics from Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria. The UK in Nigeria announced the opening via its X handle on Thursday, urging eligible candidates to apply before the August 25, 2026 deadline. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission administers the programme under two distinct strands: Commonwealth Professional Fellowships and Commonwealth Academic Fellowships. These fellowships enable professionals and academics from eligible Commonwealth countries to spend time in the UK at host organisations working on programmes of professional or academic development that will have a developmental impact upon their return home.

The programme is divided into two categories, each designed for different career paths. Commonwealth Professional Fellowships target mid-career professionals seeking development at a UK host organisation in their sector. Professional Fellowships are expected to last between six weeks and three months, with start dates between mid-February and mid-March 2027. Applicants must have at least five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience by the proposed start of the fellowship, and voluntary work experience does not count toward this minimum. Commonwealth Academic Fellowships are designed for university academic staff who hold a PhD and are employed at a university in a Commonwealth country outside the UK. These fellowships last three months and are scheduled to begin in January or February 2027, focusing on academic skills updates, knowledge exchange, and networking, with the goal of establishing future collaborations with UK universities.

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The CSC has provisionally planned approximately 40 fellowships for the 2026/27 cycle. Approximately 30 fellowships are available for citizens of Commonwealth countries eligible for Official Development Assistance, which includes Nigeria, while approximately 10 fellowships are available for citizens of Commonwealth countries not eligible for ODA. All fellowship proposals must align with one of the CSC’s six development themes. These themes include science and technology for development; improving population health, health systems and capacity; promoting innovation and entrepreneurship; strengthening peace, security and governance; strengthening resilience and response to crises; and access, inclusion and opportunity.

To be eligible for these fellowships, prospective Fellows must meet several general requirements. They must be citizens of, or have been granted refugee status by, an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person, and must be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country. They must not have indefinite leave to remain in the UK and must be in employment at the time of application at an organisation they will return to after completing the fellowship. Applicants must provide at least two references, one of which must be from their current employer, as applications without references will be considered ineligible. They must not have undertaken a Commonwealth Fellowship within the last five years at the time of taking up the award and must be available to undertake the fellowship from the prescribed start date. Nigeria is listed among the eligible Commonwealth countries.

Applicants for Professional Fellowships must have at least five years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, relevant work experience in a profession related to the subject of the fellowship programme by the proposed start date, and voluntary work experience will not be counted toward this minimum. Applicants for Academic Fellowships must hold a PhD and be employed by a university in a Commonwealth country other than the UK.

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The CSC provides comprehensive funding for all fellowships, including approved return airfare from the Fellow’s home country to the UK and reimbursement of the standard visa application fee. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend living allowance of £2,218 per month for organisations outside London or £2,753 per month for organisations in the London metropolitan area, based on 2025/26 levels. The package also includes an arrival allowance of up to £1,247.09, including an element for warm clothing. Additional funding is available for programmes from six weeks to two months, which can claim up to £1,000 for short courses, conferences, or travel to other UK organisations, while programmes of two months to three months can claim up to £2,000. If a Fellow declares a disability, a full assessment of needs and eligibility for additional financial support will be offered by the CSC.

Applications opened at 9:00 AM BST on July 28, 2026, and will close at 4:00 PM BST on August 25, 2026. Interested applicants must complete the online application form through the CSC application portal. Required information and documents include educational qualifications, employment history, relevant work experience, publications and prizes where applicable, at least two references with one from the current employer, a development impact statement explaining how the fellowship relates to one of the CSC’s six development themes and how skills will be applied after returning home, a personal statement of up to 500 words summarising how personal background has encouraged the applicant to want to make an impact in their home country, a summary of voluntary and leadership experience of up to 500 words, and a scanned copy of passport or national identity card. The application is free, and no money is required. Nigerian applicants can contact the Federal Scholarship Board for further information via email at fsb@education.gov.ng or by phone at 09124516750 or 09082454557.

Fellows must adhere to several conditions, including returning to their home country and previous place of employment within five days of the award’s end, not undertaking paid employment during the award, residing in the UK throughout the award period, securing suitable UK entry clearance and meeting all immigration regulations, and not receiving other fellowships, awards, or bursaries covering the same costs concurrently. In line with the UK Bribery Act 2010, any applicant convicted of bribery will be banned from reapplying for a Commonwealth Scholarship or Fellowship for up to five years.

UK Opens 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Applications for Nigerians – How to Apply

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Court remands alleged ‘fake PFIPC DG’ Adeyemi in Kuje over forgery

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Court remands alleged ‘fake PFIPC DG’ Adeyemi in Kuje over forgery

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the remand of Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew, who allegedly presented himself as the Director-General of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, at the Kuje Correctional Centre over alleged forgery.

Justice Muhammed Umar reportedly made the order on Wednesday after Adeyemi was arraigned on an eight-count charge bordering on alleged forgery.

Adeyemi pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court also fixed October 12, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application and directed that the case be given accelerated hearing.

One of the allegations against Adeyemi relates to the alleged forgery of presidential letterhead paper on March 8, 2024.

He was also accused of allegedly forging a request for collaboration with the Ministry of the Area Councils, as well as documents requesting land allocation and office accommodation across the 36 states of the federation.

The documents were allegedly presented as having emanated from the State House in Abuja.

The case is connected to the controversy surrounding the purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, an organisation the Federal Government has said was never established as a government agency.

The Presidency had earlier disowned the organisation and warned members of the public and foreign missions against dealing with Adeyemi on the basis of his alleged claim to have been appointed by the Presidency.

The government subsequently said investigations had established that the purported agency was fictitious and alleged that Adeyemi used forged appointment letters and other government documents to present himself as a presidential appointee.

The authorities further alleged that documents associated with the purported organisation were used to seek official recognition and diplomatic assistance.

The controversy also attracted the attention of the House of Representatives, which investigated the activities of the organisation and the circumstances surrounding Adeyemi’s alleged appointment.

During the investigation, lawmakers were told that the appointment letter allegedly presented by Adeyemi had been confirmed to be fake by relevant government authorities.

The case has also raised questions over how the purported organisation was able to operate and obtain correspondence with some government institutions before the Presidency publicly disowned it.

Adeyemi, however, has denied the allegations against him and previously made counter-allegations concerning the circumstances surrounding his purported appointment. He has also questioned references to the PFIPC in government documents.

Those claims remain part of the wider controversy and have yet to be determined by the court.

With the latest order, Adeyemi will remain at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

His bail application is expected to come up on October 12, 2026.

The allegations against him remain unproven until determined by the court.

Court remands alleged ‘fake PFIPC DG’ Adeyemi in Kuje over forgery

 

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FG Opens Nationwide Youth Registration, Targets Nigerians Aged 15–35

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FG Opens Nationwide Youth Registration, Targets Nigerians Aged 15–35
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande

FG Opens Nationwide Youth Registration, Targets Nigerians Aged 15–35

The Federal Government has commenced nationwide registration of Nigerians aged 15 to 35 under the National Youth Data Bank (NYDB), a new initiative designed to build a reliable database of young people and support access to jobs, skills training, internships, entrepreneurship and other opportunities.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, announced the commencement of the exercise as the government launched the National Youth Data Bank, saying accurate youth data would help improve the planning, targeting and delivery of government programmes.

The NYDB is designed to capture information on young Nigerians, including their education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship and other demographic characteristics. The official platform says the database is intended to provide a centralised and continuously updated picture of Nigeria’s youth population.

The government said the initiative is not an electoral registration exercise but a youth development programme aimed at improving how government identifies young people and connects them with relevant opportunities.

The registration covers young Nigerians in different sectors and settings, including those in schools, the informal sector, agriculture, sports, creative industries and technology.

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A key part of the exercise is the establishment of approved NYDB registration centres or cluster points. According to the official NYDB platform, young Nigerians can register at approved locations within their state, Local Government Area (LGA), school or other specially designated locations.

This means that not every school, LGA office or public facility is automatically a registration centre. Applicants are expected to use approved NYDB cluster points, where trained registration personnel will guide them through the process.

The exercise is being extended across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with the programme designed to reach young people in rural and underserved communities as well as those in urban areas.

The registration process begins with a visit to an approved NYDB cluster point, followed by an eligibility check and the creation of a youth profile. Participants are then required to confirm the information provided before completing the registration.

The 15 to 35 age bracket is the target population for the data-bank exercise. The database is expected to be updated continuously to maintain current information on eligible young Nigerians.

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development says the information gathered will help government understand where young people are located, what qualifications and skills they have, whether they are employed or seeking opportunities, and what forms of support may be required.

The NYDB platform identifies education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship, civic participation and health among the key areas of information being developed to strengthen youth-focused planning and interventions.

The initiative is also expected to improve the ability of government and authorised partners to identify young people who may be missing from existing datasets, particularly those in rural communities and underserved groups.

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has separately announced plans for a National Youth Confab 2026, scheduled to begin in October, with participation expected from young Nigerians across the country’s 360 federal constituencies.

For Nigerians within the 15–35 age bracket, the government is therefore encouraging participation through the approved NYDB registration centres as the nationwide exercise expands.

FG Opens Nationwide Youth Registration, Targets Nigerians Aged 15–35

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Tinubu Returns After 30 Days in Europe, Says ‘I’m Healthy and Ready to Work’

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Tinubu Returns After 30 Days in Europe, Says ‘I’m Healthy and Ready to Work’

Tinubu Returns After 30 Days in Europe, Says ‘I’m Healthy and Ready to Work’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after spending about 30 days in Europe, declaring that he is healthy, sound and ready to work after his extended working vacation.

Tinubu arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 6:22pm on Tuesday after departing Paris, France, where he spent the final part of his trip.

Speaking briefly after his arrival, the President said he had enjoyed his time abroad and dismissed concerns about his health.

“I enjoyed myself,” Tinubu said when asked about his trip.

Asked whether he was ready to resume work, he replied: “Ready to kick. Ready to work. There’s nothing wrong.” He also described himself as “healthy, sound and ready to go.”

Tinubu left Nigeria on August 30 for what was initially announced as a three-week working vacation. He spent time in London before travelling to Paris, with the Presidency later announcing an extension of his stay.

During the European trip, Tinubu maintained contact with Nigerian officials and continued to receive updates on government affairs, according to the Presidency.

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While in Paris, he held a private dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace and met French businessman Vincent Bolloré and executives of the Bolloré Group.

He also witnessed the signing of an agreement involving the Ogun State Government and DP World for the proposed development of the Gateway Deep Sea Port and Blue Marine Economic Zone. The Presidency has described the proposed project as a $7 billion investment.

Tinubu’s extended stay abroad attracted public debate, particularly after he did not personally attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.

Vice President Kashim Shettima represented Nigeria at the UNGA and delivered the country’s national statement.

The Presidency defended the arrangement, maintaining that Tinubu remained in charge of government and continued to direct affairs while abroad.

His return to Nigeria through Lagos also comes ahead of the country’s 66th Independence Day celebrations on October 1.

Tinubu is expected to attend the premiere of MKO, a documentary on the life of the late businessman and pro-democracy campaigner MKO Abiola, at the Wole Soyinka National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

The film features archival material and interviews with prominent Nigerians, including former military leaders Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and Tinubu.

Tinubu’s return brings his extended European working vacation to an end, with the President expected to resume his regular official engagements as the administration enters the final quarter of 2026.

Tinubu Returns After 30 Days in Europe, Says ‘I’m Healthy and Ready to Work’

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