The Kaduna-based Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) is set to open the application portal for its sixth cohort of fellows on the 9th January 2023. This was made known in a press briefing by the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship Administrator, Zainab Mohammed, on Tuesday, 3rd January, 2023. KIF, which was established as a leadership capacity building programme by Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, admitted its first cohort of fellows in 2018.
Ms. Mohammed said that “we are pleased to inform the general public that the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship portal will open to prospective applicants on 9th January 2023 and close on 8th February 2023. This will be the sixth cohort of the fellowship, which began in 2018. We are looking forward to receiving applications from Nigerians all over the world”.
Explaining what the fellowship is all about, Ms. Mohammed said “The Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship (KIF) is a one-year, non-partisan leadership programme envisioned by the Kaduna State Government to create a network of high potential young Nigerians who are expected to rise to top leadership positions in the Public Sector having had a first-hand experience of its workings and challenges”.
The Fellowship is now in its fifth cycle, with 24 fellows who will complete their programme in July 2023. Since its inception in 2018, KIF has graduated 70 Alumni Fellows, many of whom work in Public Service across all levels, while some work in multinational institutions and non-governmental organisations.
Speaking on what inspired the programme, she disclosed that, “Governor Nasir El-Rufai wants to attract the youngest, the brightest of Nigerians to spend one year in government. They will have the opportunity of working with heads of ministries, departments, and agencies, to see the challenges and opportunities. This may just change their minds about the importance of the public sector.”
To be eligible for the programme, the KIF administrator said “you must be a Nigerian, because we are looking at solving a Nigerian problem. You also have to be in the age bracket of 25-35 years, because this demographic is the largest in Nigeria. Also, you should not be very set in your ways, you should be able to think outside the box. They should have the energy and the capacity and they should also be people that adapt to technology, and are open to learning. They must have completed their NYSC, having graduated from a recognized institution.”
While stating the four components of the program as “the work placement, the education component, the community service, and then the Fellowship”, the administrator also gave more insight on the application and selection process.
She explained that “we will give them an opportunity when applying, to put their thoughts into words, apart from their essay, where we give you a topic, just to be able to judge their reasoning and thought pattern. Because it is good for a leader to be able to sell his or her vision.”
She added, “But we also have the personal statement, where we want to see what your vision is, what your drive and passion is, especially for making change; what have you done in society? Have you affected the life of someone in school? Some people give extra-curricular classes, just for free, because they want to brush up the next generation. Some people are very passionate about women and the girl-child; some are passionate about different things, but what have they done towards pursuing that passion. In your personal statement, you will be able to tell us.”
To apply, interested persons should visit the portal, https://kif.kdsg.gov.ng from 9th January 2023. The application portal will close on 8th February 2023.
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