The Click-On Kaduna Data Science Fellowship Programme (DSFP 5.0) has officially concluded its six-month training cycle, marking the end of an intensive learning journey for the 45 fellows selected into the 2025/2026 cohort.
Following a highly competitive selection process that drew over 5,400 applicants nationwide, the expanded cohort underwent rigorous training designed to bridge technical knowledge with real-world application. Over the course of the programme, fellows engaged in in-depth classroom sessions, hands-on projects, fieldwork, and specialised learning tracks tailored to key sectors including health, education, and governance.
Hosted at the Amina J. Mohammed SDGs Data Lab, the fellowship provided a structured environment where participants worked daily with data—interrogating, analysing, and applying it to pressing social challenges.
A key component of the programme was fieldwork conducted through the Independent Longitudinal Study with NFTI, where fellows were exposed to real data collection and analysis processes within a live project setting. This experience strengthened their understanding of how data is generated, managed, and applied in real-world development contexts.
As part of its longstanding approach to practical learning, the programme continued its integration of guest lectures featuring experienced professionals across sectors. In DSFP 5.0, fellows engaged with sessions that explored both technical and professional development. These included discussions on evidence-informed leadership in public health, as well as a career-focused session on “Beyond the Certificates: Mastering CVs, LinkedIn, and Personal Branding for Career Growth,” equipping fellows with tools to position themselves effectively in the workforce.
The cohort also participated in a brown bag session with the Statistician General of the Kaduna State Bureau of Statistics on “Cultivating a Data Culture: Leadership Strategy for Sustainable Development in Kaduna State,” providing an interactive platform to examine how data systems are strengthened and sustained within government.
A defining component of DSFP 5.0 was its emphasis on application and performance. Fellows were required to translate learning into outputs—through group projects, field-based assignments, and final presentations that demonstrated both technical competence and contextual understanding.
Since its inception in 2020, the DSFP has trained over 150 young professionals, many of whom now work across government institutions, development organisations, and the private sector, contributing to data-driven policy and innovation.
With the training phase now complete, the DSFP 5.0 cohort moves to its final milestone: graduation. The upcoming ceremony will formally recognise the achievements of the fellows and mark their transition into a growing network of data professionals committed to using data for social good.
The conclusion of DSFP 5.0 reinforces Kaduna State’s continued investment in building a strong pipeline of data talent and advancing the use of evidence in governance and development.
