The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) on Wednesday requested partnership with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to train its journalists on investigative reporting.
Mr Dayo Aiyetan, the Executive Director of the centre, made the request during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in Abuja.
Aiyetan said ICIR was ready to collaborate with NAN to develop its journalists to acquire the necessary skills for investigative reporting.
He said that the training would also help journalists to improve on the reportage of critical issues since the role of the media is to hold government accountable.
He said that his organisation was being funded by donor agencies and that the programmes included building the capacity of journalists, internships, mentoring as well as provision of grants.
According to him, the organisation’s funds were tied to specific projects such as investigating budget and procurement processes and human rights issues, among others.
Aiyetan said that ICIR was interested in training as many journalists as possible in order to improve their skills to be able to deliver on their statutory mandate.
“Because NAN is a government-owned media does not mean they cannot participate in investigative journalism.
“The organisation complements the work of anti-corruption agencies and we are standing with government to expose illegal activities.
“We want to train the staff to show our support for the media as well to share our contents,” he said.
Responding, Onanuga said that NAN management would welcome meaningful collaboration with organisations for training that can raise the capacity of its editorial staff and ultimately improve the fortunes of the agency.
Onanuga noted that NAN journalists had been trained to be compliant with the new trend of journalism such as data and investigative journalism.
He added that NAN, being a government-owned medium, had a mandate to hold government accountable.
The managing director explained that the organisation’s reportage cover all works of life, adding that the agency was subsidising the media in the country by charging affordable rates for its services.
While pledging to partner with ICIR, he noted that the public depended on the media for information and that NAN was committed to delivering on its mandate.
Mrs Nkechi Okoronkwo, the Acting Editor-in-Chief of NAN, underscored the need for capacity building, saying the management had continued to avail editorial staff of training opportunities organised both in-house and by external organisations.
She said that training was key to journalists’ development and that capacity building in the areas of science, health, economy and other sectors would be welcomed. (NAN)
