Application for Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship is FREE and open to all Nigerians between the age of 25-35 years. It is strictly an online process and selection of Fellows is based entirely on merit.

1. Applications submitted on the portal before the stated deadline are automatically filtered for plagiarism and grammar. Those who attain the minimum score required (cut-off score) and beyond, make it to the second round of assessments.
2. In the second round, each application undergoes a preliminary strength of argument, further use of English and demonstration of leadership/public service qualities assessment by independent editors and successful applications move to the third round of assessments.
3. In this third level, each application is reviewed by two members of the Steering Committee. They are scored based on use of English, persuasiveness of argument, demonstration of leadership/public service qualities and strength of curriculum vitae (CV) and letters of recommendation. Applicants who meet the cut-off score and beyond are contacted and asked to make video submissions of themselves responding to questions asked.
4. In stage four, the videos are reviewed by the Steering Committee with the best of them being selected for the consideration of the Governing Board.
5. The Governing Board then does the final selection of the required number of Fellows who would form the next cohort of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship.
6. The successful applicants are contacted by the KIF Secretariat and announced by the Governor at an unveiling ceremony.