Dangote, ICIR train journalists on improved economy reporting

To strengthen coverage of the Nigerian economy, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), in partnership with Dangote Industries Limited, organised a two-day capacity building workshop to train journalists on investigative reporting.

The workshop, which held in the South East, exposed journalists to intricacies involved in investigative reportage of different sectors of the economy.
Several areas of investigative journalism techniques, such as ethical business, human rights and environment, understanding international financial flows and money laundering, interpreting financial and economic data, forensic interviewing techniques, and data reporting, were covered during the training.

Opening the training in Enugu, the General Manager, Branding and Communications, Dangote Industries, Okey Nwankwo, said the training was planned to upgrade the capacity of practising journalists on business reporting skills, while describing the company’s relationship with the media as cordial.

According to him, apart from equipping journalists with necessary skills required for adequate reporting of socio-economic and business issues, the programme would strengthen the relationship between the company and journalists.

The ICIR Programme Officer, Afred Akerele, explained that the training was organised to strengthen capacity of business correspondents/reporters with best practices on investigative reporting, especially in the business and finance sector, knowing that the private sector contributes the largest growth index to the Nigerian economy.

According to Akerele, as a Centre, with strong passion for investigative reporting, the ICIR has a track record in training, which has improved intellectual, practical and professional skills for media organisations and personnel.

He stated: “For us, business reporters must advance from traditional media practices to more advanced and digitalised approach to learn new reporting innovations, analysis, virtualisation, proper documentation, headline crafting, and verification.

This is an extended project that will cut across all six regions of the country; but we are piloting with the South East.

“It’s interesting to know how excited participants were, seeing the learning schedules/curriculum designed for the programme with the level of expertise of facilitators.

Sessions were much more engaging and interactive, which opened up participants to innovations that were not limited to business/finance reporting. They also enhanced their knowledge of other mechanisms for investigative reporting without prejudices or corruption.