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BRAIN BUILDERS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE NATIONAL TERTIARY INSTITUTION ESSAY COMPETITION : AI LITERACY & RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY USE

Application Deadline: 15 April 2026, 10:00 AM (WAT)

LOCATION: Nigeria

The Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) invites students from tertiary institutions across Nigeria to enter a national essay competition on AI literacy and responsible technology use. This is an invitation to think critically, argue clearly, and contribute your perspective to one of the most important conversations shaping Nigeria’s future.

This competition is part of BBYDI’s AI Literacy for Everyday People in Nigeria project, supported by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. BBYDI is a youth-led Nigerian nonprofit and a leading voice on AI literacy, digital rights, and responsible technology use in Nigeria and across Africa

ELIGIBILITY:

Your essay should be grounded in the Nigerian context and demonstrate critical thinking, ethical awareness, and a practical understanding of how AI affects real people and communities. You may approach the theme from any angle, but your argument must be specific and well-evidenced, not a general overview of AI.

To be eligible, you must:

Be a current student at a recognised Nigerian tertiary institution (university, polytechnic, college of education, college of technology, monotechnic, school of nursing, or other diploma-awarding institution) with a verifiable student ID

Be between 18 and 30 years old

Submit an original, previously unpublished essay

Grant BBYDI the right to publish, excerpt, or reference your essay, with attribution, in its publications, learning resources, impact reports, and advocacy materials

Essay Requirements:

Word count1,200–1,500 words (excluding references)
LanguageEnglish
FormatTyped, Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced
StructureA clear argument with a logical progression, not a general survey of the topic

BENEFIT:

Prizes and Recognition:

1st Place₦400,000
2nd Place₦300,000
3rd Place₦200,000
Top 10 Finalists₦100,000 

Winners will be announced publicly, and the top essays will be featured in BBYDI’s publications and advocacy materials.

APPLY

FULLY FUNDED IWMF ELIZABETH NEUFFER FELLOWSHIP

Application Deadline: Monday, April 19th, 2026, 5:00 AM

LOCATION: USA

The Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship gives academic and professional opportunities to women journalists committed to human rights and social justice reporting. During this fellowship, the selected journalist will have the chance to complete research and coursework at MIT’s Center for International Studies and to participate in an internship with The Boston Globe.

ELIGIBILITY:

The Neuffer Fellowship is open to women, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming journalists whose work focuses on human rights and social justice issues.

All applicants for the Neuffer Fellowship must be working journalists with at least three years of full-time, professional journalism experience. Internships and journalism-related work completed as a university student do not count as professional experience. Applicants may be affiliated or freelance journalists.

Journalists from any country around the world are eligible to apply. However, applicants must speak, read, and write English fluently in order to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship.

The application for the 2027 Fellowship is now open from March 8th to April 19th, 2026. The winner will be announced around August 2026.

BENEFIT:

Neuffer Fellows receive a fixed monthly stipend to cover their living costs. The IWMF also arranges and covers the cost of housing in Cambridge and New York City for the fellow. The IWMF purchases round-trip economy airfare from the fellow’s place of residence to the United States, as well as transportation between the Fellowship cities. The fellow receives health insurance during the program. The Fellowship does not include a salary. For fellows residing outside of the United States, the Fellowship also covers the costs of applying for and obtaining a U.S. visa. The fellow is fully responsible for any additional incidental expenses and other costs.

APPLY