THE Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) has stressed the imperative of capacity-building for journalists and media stakeholders towards an informed, accurate and impactful reporting of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, especially in the light of its specialised nature.

Addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the two-day programme in Lagos, the PTDF Executive Secretary, Prof. Shuaibu Shehu Aliyu, described the media as far more than a conveyor of information but also “a strategic partner in shaping public discourse, promoting transparency, and driving national development.”

He noted that “in an industry as technical and constantly evolving as oil and gas, effective journalism requires not only timely reporting but also a sound understanding of the policies, technologies, and issues that shape the sector. That is the purpose of this programme.”

The agency noted that, as Nigeria’s foremost human capacity development agency for the oil and gas industry, it recognises the imperative of extending capacity building beyond industry professionals “to include those responsible for informing the public.

“By strengthening your understanding of the sector and of PTDF’s mandate, programmes, and interventions, we are investing in more accurate, balanced, and insightful reporting.”

Aliyu explained that the agency’s story and core mandate is one of “developing skilled manpower, advancing research and innovation, supporting local content, and contributing to Nigeria’s energy future,” which deserve to be communicated with clarity, context, and credibility.

To that end, he stated that the training programme also reinforces the enduring partnership between PTDF and the media, even as he commended the newsmen’s professionalism in amplifying the agency’s initiatives.

Meanwhile, the training facilitator and Group Managing Director of Better Ways, Dr Victor Dare, told participants that to always have eyes for details in their news reporting, stating that the implications of the details not accounted for in a piece of news could be very costly to the concerned individual, organisation, or country.

According to the forensic investigator, a news story must be correct, complete and compliant with professional ethics to be credible.

He stated that “the oil and gas sector remains the cornerstone and key driver of Nigeria’s economy, accounting for about 65 per cent of government revenue, over 85 per cent of total export earnings, and roughly 90 per cent of foreign exchange earnings, despite contributing less than 10 per cent to the annual GDP.”

Noting that journalism in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector focuses on improving transparency, accountability, and on other vital issues relating to the energy economy and energy prosperity, Dare advised that while covering complex technical issues and intricate debates in the petroleum industry, there is a need to continuously equip journalists to understand the dynamics of operations in the industry.

“Journalists interpret and report on technicalities and communicate the events in the sector to the public with clear meanings. By all estimation, news reporting and broadcasting practice in the oil and gas industry is a very crucial part of journalism because of the vantage position the industry occupies in the survival, stability and sustainability of Nigeria as a nation,” he added.

To that end, he stressed that the workshop was “designed to retool and upskill the participants to conduct highly specialised and organic reporting, achieve relevant technical knowledge of the oil and gas sector, be a public confidence builder for the industry, and be image-building ambassadors for the petroleum industry, especially the PTDF.”