Media
Safer-Media Initiative Builds Capacity, Tasks Journalists to Improve Society
From David Torough, Makurdi
A two-day Capacity Building Workshop for journalists in Benue state has ended in Makurdi, the state capital with a charge on participants to use the knowledge gained to serve the society better.
The event with the theme: “Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Accountability Reporting” was put together by Safer-media Initiative (SMI) in collaboration with the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism and supported by the MacArthur Foundation.
Declaring the workshop open, Executive Director and Chief.
Executive Officer, Safer-Media Initiative, Peter Iorter said that the essence of the workshop was to provide a strong advocacy for the independent media, Empowering Journalists to conduct their craft with up-to-date skills and relative safety while championing ethical, data-driving and in-depth Journalism that drives the vision of social justice, good governance and accountability in the defence of public interest.According to the organizer, investigative journalism is integral to national development, as it plays the watchdog role of Journalists holding authorities to account, both in the public and private sector and ensures inclusivity of voices on issues.
Iorter maintained that the absence of investigative journalism affects accountability, while poverty ravages the people, cutting deadly paths across communities especially in local settings.
He added that Safer-Media Initiative, which aims at strengthening watchdog Journalism, media reporting on accountability and inclusion of the most underrepresented voices, places and issues finds the need to strengthen the Capacity of Journalists for in-depth reporting on what is working and what is not-exposed lies, abuses of power and corruption in managing public resources, lack of transparency and accountability by providing Journalists with the required skill to improve their investigative reporting capacity.
In his remarks, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, Comrade Jerry Tyosase noted that the training will help Journalists to upgrade on their knowledge acquired in the school and charged participants to take the training seriously and use the knowledge gained to impact positively on the society.
Resource person at the workshop, Taiwo Hassan Adebayo who is also Investigative Editor, Premium Times Newspaper trained participants on investigative reporting and Story building techniques, development and data Journalism for covering community, Sources handling in investigative reporting, impact generation for investigative journalism, story lab and redesigning story pitch amongst others.
Some of the Participants at the workshop including; Daily Asset Correspondent, David Torough, Terhemen Ater of Radio Benue and Aar Terna of National Record all expressed appreciation to the organizers, saying that the training offered them the opportunity to gain more experience that would add value to their various organizations and the society at large.
A total of 51 Journalists were trained as the organizers have earlier trained 39 Journalists in Abuja and neighbouring states while 12 were trained in Benue.
By David Torough, Abuja
OurNigeria Magazine has announced plans for its 2025 OurNigeria Awards Ceremony, an annual event dedicated to celebrating Nigerians whose leadership, service and commitment to national development have made measurable impact across key sectors of the country.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on Saturday, January 31, 2025, at 6:00 p.
m. at the Abuja Continental Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory.In a press conference by the magazine’s editorial board, Chairman of the Editorial Board, Dr. AK Peters, said the awards remain its flagship initiative aimed at promoting excellence, patriotism and positive national values, while recognising individuals whose contributions often go uncelebrated.
The theme for the 2025 edition, “Providing a Podium for the Unsung Hero,” underscores the magazine’s mission to spotlight Nigerians who have demonstrated courage, sacrifice and consistency in nation-building, frequently without commensurate public recognition.
For the 2025 awards, the magazine has selected three distinguished Nigerians for top honours. The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, will be honoured as Man of the Year, while Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, emerges as Governor of the Year. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has also been named Senator of the Year.
The organisers said the honourees were selected after a rigorous editorial assessment process, stakeholder consultations and a review of their leadership records, public service and national influence within the period under review.
The ceremony is expected to bring together key leaders from government, the private sector, civil society, the diplomatic community and the media, with the aim of celebrating exemplary leadership and inspiring renewed commitment to national service.
In addition, the magazine released a draft list of national awardees and special guests ahead of its 7th Our Nigeria News Awards scheduled for 2026. The list includes prominent political leaders, military officers, academics, civil society advocates, entrepreneurs and media professionals who have distinguished themselves in service, leadership and advocacy.
Among those listed are Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of the Year, former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso for a Lifetime Achievement Award in Democratic Leadership, and Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji as Banker of the Year.
Several lifetime achievement and special recognition awards are also slated for figures in scholarship, interfaith dialogue, youth leadership, community service and public service.
The event is expected to feature high-profile dignitaries, including former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Distinguished Guest of Honour, former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon as Father of the Day, and retired Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai as Chairman of the Awards.
Our Nigeria Magazine expressed appreciation to its media partners and stakeholders for their continued support in promoting positive Nigerian narratives and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability.
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Practicing Journalists in Kogi state have expressed readiness to partner with the State Internal Revenue Service on tax administration enlightenment and adequate publicity of its activities.
Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Segun Salami, gave the indication when he led his members on a visit to the Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe.
Salami promised a robust collaboration with the agency in creation of public awareness on the need for all taxable citizens to embrace prompt payment of their personal income taxes.
“Our task as journalists is to assist the agency in meeting up with its target of revenue generation for Kogi government through our social responsibility duty of enlightening the people to key into regular and prompt payment of their taxes as when due
“Journalists also owe it as a duty to alert citizens on the need to contribute their quota towards the development of their state and the nation in general by meeting up with their financial commitment on prompt tax payment”
Salami advocated for quarterly media interaction with the agency as part of the partnership move in publicising its activities.
He commended the Executive Chairman and his management team for the resouding success so far recorded in generating more revenue for the state government to provide the needed democracy dividends to the people.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe, expressed delight over the prevailing cordial relationship between his angency and practicing Journalists in Kogi since assumption of office.
He promised to sustain the feat in the interest of both parties geared towards achieving accelerated transformation of Kogi.
Enehe also gave an assurance that he would live above board under the partnership agreement which according to him would go a long way in improving the agency’s services of mobilizing resources for the development of the state.
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