Journalists can be catalysts for good governance in Nigeria  – IPC

Ani Aniekan, Calabar

The executive director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade has said that journalists can be catalysts for good governance in Nigeria.

The executive director stated this in Port Harcourt during a two-day capacity building on combating information disorder in democratic governance reporting using fact checking and FOI tools.

The workshop which had as its theme “Credible Elections & Democratic Governance” is one of the activities being implemented by IPC, as lead partner, and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) under Component 4: Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGNII) project.

In the words of the IPC Executive Director, “journalists can be catalysts for good governance.

“We have seen societies including Nigeria itself where through consistent reporting and follow-up journalists have been able to make a difference in the lives of the people.

‘This is through getting government to do what they are supposed to do, build roads in communities and health centres” he said.

He said by fostering a culture of critical thinking, fact-checking, and media literacy, journalists will be empowered to serve as guardians of truth, champions of integrity, and defenders of democracy. 

He expressed hope that at the end of the two-day capacity building program, we a network of journalists who shall be identified as the IPC/EUSDGN fellows of fact-checking, investigative and FOI journalism will emerge.

Also speaking on the FOI Act, Edetaen Ojo, the executive director of Media Rights Agenda said the whole essence of the FOI Act is to enable citizens including journalists to get information from public institutions and officials but more important to get information that is reliable.

He disclosed that journalists have not made significant use of the FOI and part of the objective of the workshop is to create greater awareness and sensitize journalists about the existence of the law, it’s value to them and also build capacity on how to use the law effectively.

Also speaking, a resource person and lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt Dr. Titilayo Osuagwu said gender equality is a problem.

She advocated for gender complimentary roles and also stressed that women have to be deliberate in advancing each other’s causes.

About fourth journalists from diverse media organizations participated in the two day workshop.