The International Press Centre (IPC) recently conducted a comprehensive training session for journalists in Nigeria, focusing on combating fake news, enhancing reporting on democratic governance, and ensuring politicians are held accountable for their electoral promises.
The IPC emphasized that the training aimed to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfill their crucial role in upholding democratic values and ensuring accountability in governance. Describing it as a pivotal step towards strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, the center underscored the importance of fair, accurate, and ethical reporting in electoral processes and elections.
Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC, emphasized the critical role journalists play in ensuring the credibility of elections and bolstering democratic processes. He outlined the objectives of the training, which included factual and accurate reporting of elections, fact-checking information, and holding leaders accountable for their campaign promises.
Arogundade urged Nigerian journalists to remain vigilant against fake news and misinformation, highlighting the significance of utilizing tools for fact-checking and identifying disinformation propagated by politicians and their allies.
Furthermore, he called upon the Nigerian government and media owners to create an enabling environment for journalists to practice without fear of reprisal or attack, stressing the importance of protecting press freedom.
During the training, Martins Oloja, the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian, encouraged journalists to continue reporting on key issues and holding politicians accountable to their promises. He emphasized the media’s responsibility to monitor governance and advocate for reforms, urging journalists to utilize investigative tools such as budget analysis to scrutinize campaign promises and government performance.
Oloja further emphasized the importance of citizen engagement in holding representatives accountable at all times, underscoring the collective responsibility of Nigerians in fostering transparency and accountability in governance.
