The Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun state council in partnership with IHS Nigeria Limited has trained 100 media practitioners practising in the state.
The training, which attracted newsmen from the prints, electronics and online media is aimed at equipping journalists with reporting skills for finance, economy, telecoms, mining, oil and gas, among others.
Former The Nation Editor, Lekan Otufodunrin, while speaking on “Understanding the workability of conventional and new media, the Pros and Cons”, advised the participants to make use of the various media platforms and see which one works better for them and be consistent with it.
He enjoined journalists to practice new journalism formats with the use of digital investigative journalism, mobile journalism,data journalism, fact-Checking and solution journalism.
Representing, Prof. Dele Odunlami, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Dr Folarin Jamiu recommend that practitioners must be committed to ethics, invest in digital skills, and adopt solutions-oriented data.
Meanwhile, the the Secretary to the Ogun state government, Tokunbo Talabi, while declaring the training opening lauded the Chapel’s initiative at equipping its members with necessary skills for modern day reporting.
Represented by the Special Adviser to the Ogun state governor on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the SSG stated that the training is crucial in the face of daunting challenges facing the media.
“As we are all aware, Media practitioners in Nigeria face daunting challenges, including those related to career development.
“Often, there are gaps in the areas of structured mentorship for young reporters, career planning and growth opportunities, digital skills and leadership development, and there are also issues with financial viability and sustainability, media regulations, especially in relation to new media threats, physical assaults and harassment of journalists on the field; limited protection for journalists, particularly during election coverages among others.
“While many of these challenges have to do with the government, media employers and the operating environment, others are in-house issues that can be well handled by media managers and organs such as the correspondents chapel”, he said.
The Chairman of the chapel, Comrade Rasaq Ayinla, while delivering his welcome address noted that the training which is aimed at celebrating his exco second year anniversary is ensure journalists are kept abreast of skills needed to report beyond politics.
“Having observed overtime that Journalists, especially those working at the outstations lack basic and required reporting skills for finance and economy, telecoms, mining, oil and gas, banking and insurance, law, public administration, community relations, aviation, motoring, among others.
“We are therefore conducting this training for 100 Ogun State-based Journalists to close the perceived gap and of course, for the IHS Nigeria Limited to fraternise and share ideas with Journalists in Ogun State and beyond”, he added.
A representative of the lead sponsor, Yemisi Diya-Salawu, in her remarks noted that the company investment in digital and telecommunications is equally an investment in media which according to her is its by-product.
She noted that the initiative reflects the company’s strong sustainability and societal impact agenda, prioritizing investment in people, education, and community growth, adding that the company operates over 16,000 towers and 15,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country, positioning it as a key enabler of digital transformation and connectivity.
