THE International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has commenced training of selected journalists from newsrooms in North-East and North-West Nigeria on Data and Investigative Journalism.
The three-day programme is currently taking place in Tahir Guest Palace, Kano State.
The participants were drawn from print, online and broadcast media across the North-West and North-East geopolitical zones.
The training, which is part of The ICIR Open Contract Reporting Project sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation, was organised by the Centre to build the capacity of journalists in Investigative and Data Journalism.
In his address, The ICIR’s Executive Director Dayo Aiyetan told participants that the project was designed to equip journalists working on the Open Contract Reporting Project (OCRP) with the ability to properly conduct investigative journalism, particularly when using data.
Abigail Obigwezzy, a professor; Lami Sadiq, Daily Trust Head of Investigation; Yetunde Mosunmola from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Jonathan Ebe from Public and Private Development Centre(PPDC), Kemi Busari Editor of Dubawa are some of the faculty of trainers and mentors at the programme.
The ICIR Open Contract Reporting Project initiative began in 2017.
The project is aimed at building the capacity of Nigerian journalists to scrutinise and report on contracting and procurement processes.
Since the project began, The ICIR has organised capacity-building training for journalists and given funding to cash-strapped newsrooms in Nigeria to launch investigations related to public procurement and the budgeting process as a way of holding public officials to account.
Blessing Otoibhi is a Multimedia Journalist and Anchor host for the News in 60 seconds at The International Center For Investigative Reporting. You can shoot her a mail via [email protected] or connect on Twitter @B_otoibhi
