A Daily Episode celebrated journalist, poet and playwright, Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim, has been shortlisted for the second phase of the Digital Public Infrastructures (DPI) Journalism Fellowship 2025.
The shortlist was announced by Dora Mawutor, Programme Director at the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), during a Zoom call held on October 1, 2025.
According to the organiser, Auwal was shortlisted alongside 39 other journalists from more than 200 applicants across Nigeria.
In an email notification, the foundation stated that shortlisted applicants and their editors will undergo interviews as part of the rigorous selection process.
“Congratulations on being shortlisted for the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Journalism Fellowship, a project of the MFWA, in partnership and with funding support from Co-Develop,” the email read.
Daily Episode recalls that this marks the fifth time in 2025 that he either made a shortlist or won journalism fellowships at both national and international levels.
Expressing gratitude, Auwal said, “As I proceed to the next stage, I pray for success. It’s always gratifying when my efforts are recognised by people I have never met. This shows my work is speaking for itself.”
“Making the list alongside journalists from Premium Times, Foundation for Investigative Journalism, The ICIR, The Guardian, The Cable, TVC, Vanguard, NAN, and other leading Nigerian papers, is a great feat for me. As a journalist, this kind of recognition serves as a strong motivation to keep pushing forward. I aim to continue making an impact.”
His bio
Muhammad Auwal Ibrahim is a celebrated young investigative journalist in Nigeria with specialisation in investigative, solutions and data journalism.
He has received multiple honours for his impactful storytelling in Nigeria and beyond, including the West African Media Excellence Conference and Award (WAMECA), Under 30 Arewa Stars Awards and the BudgIT Active Citizens Awards 2023.
Auwal is also a 2025 Chemical and Engineering News (C&EN) Science Journalism Fellowship, a 2025 Adejumobi Adegbite Fellow, a 2024 Change Reporting Fellow and a 2021 Media Foundation for West Africa’s Journalism for Change Network Fellowship.
His stories have sparked public conversations and inspired policy actions at both local and national levels.
DPI Fellowship
The Digital Public Infrastructures Fellowship is organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa in collaboration with Co-Develop.
The program aims to train West African journalists with skills and knowledge to effectively cover and contribute to the region’s evolving digital public infrastructure landscape.
It is a highly competitive fellowship that brings together journalists from across West Africa for intensive training on the concept of DPI.
