Google Selects Six Nigerian Creators for Emerging News Voices Growth Lab
Stories by Emma Okonji The Google News Initiative (GNI) has selected six Nigerian independent news creators to join the sub-Saharan Africa cohort of the Emerging News Voices Growth Lab. They
The Google News Initiative (GNI) has chosen six independent Nigerian news creators to participate in the Emerging News Voices Growth Lab, a virtual program running through late September 2026. The cohort of 20 creators from across sub-Saharan Africa aims to bolster the digital journalism landscape in Nigeria, particularly among younger audiences who increasingly discover news through social-first channels and digital-native platforms.
According to Marianne Erasmus, News Partnerships Lead for the Middle East and Africa at Google, the GNI Growth Lab addresses a critical gap faced by lean digital newsrooms. The program provides practical AI skills, video and audience strategies, direct reader relationships, and a path to sustainable revenue generation. This support enables emerging voices to build capability, financial independence, and contributes to a more resilient, diverse, and sustainable news ecosystem.
Wale Lawal, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Republic, highlighted the program's value in combining audience insights, product thinking, and responsible AI use to build a sustainable future for The Republic's journalism. Nasir Achile Ahmed, Editor-in-chief and Co-founder of MoreBranches, emphasized the initiative's provision of practical resources, new tools, and opportunities to connect with experts and fellow journalists.
The programme has reinforced their storytelling approach and provided validation for their previous observations while equipping them with effective tools to enhance their work.
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