The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) and its partner, the International Budget Partnerships (IBP) have urged journalists in the country to be more investigative and impactful in their practice to hold the government accountable and tackle corruption, urging them to embrace data, research, and evidence-based journalism in their reportage.
The Executive Director of ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan, as well as the IBP Country Director, Dr Olayinka Babalola, gave the charge during a two-day “Strengthening Public Accountability for Results and Knowledge (SPARK 2) Project” training, at Grand Pela Hotel, Garki, Abuja.
In his welcome address, the ICIR boss noted that the aim of the project tagged SPARK 2, is to examine factors contributing to the appalling state of maternal healthcare in Nigeria, despite government intervention, and systemic issues affecting the agricultural production by smallholder women farmers through a systems-level approach.
Addressing the 20 journalists selected from the states of Oyo, Anambra, Niger, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kano, and Ogun across print, electronic and digital media for the training, Aiyetan noted that the project will build the capacity of journalists to hold power bearers,
policymakers, and implementers accountable by publishing focused special and investigative reports and documentaries on delivery end at Primary Health Care, Ward Development Committees, and across commodity groups within SWOFON networks in the focal states to report and investigate the health and agriculture sectors.
He however urged the selected journalists to embrace an evidence-based reporting approach in their reports, saying every claim must be evidence-based. “Investigative reporting exposes wrongdoing and corruption that affect the public interest.”
In her remarks, the IBP Country Director noted that journalists are the conscience of the nation, adding that the project would focus more on systemic, political, and economic issues such as inadequate budgetary support, the influence of party politics in policy, gender disparities as well as cultural and other nuanced influences that impact on outcomes.
While urging the journalists to give more support to the plight of women, she noted that the project would focus more on people who are marginalized and are directly affected.
The duo of Oluwaseun Durojaye and Hassan Taiwo took the Journalists on ‘Solution Journalism’, and ‘Writing for Impact’, respectively. At the same time, Ayisat Abiona, the programme officer of ICIR, noted that the training is meant to build the capacity of journalists in investigative and impactful reporting that would make them hold people in government accountable.
The selected journalists are, Vincent Yusuf of Daily Trust, John Adams, The Sun Newspaper, Justina Asishana, The Nation Newspaper Bawas Khadija Ishaq, Liberty TV, Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim, Abubakar (Rimi TV), Ibukun Emiola (NAN), Akinwale Aboluwade (Oyo Reporters), Emma Elekwa, The Nation, Ikenna Obianeri, Punch, Alfred Ajayi, FRCN, Nurudeen Akewushola, ICIR, Lawrence Nwimo, Ikenga Online, Dan Atori, New Telegraph, Ibrahim Hamzat Abaga, Transcontinental Times, Omoniyi Busuyi Kolawole, Cool Fm, Wazobia Fm, Arewa Radio, Kano, Stephen Enoch, Stallion Times, Oladejo Adebayo, Pharmanews, Royal Ibeh, Leadership Newspaper, Agboluaje Rotimi, The Guardian, Ojo Isaac Olufemi, Splash FM.
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