UDEME, an initiative of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), has trained 22 journalists across Nigeria and Ghana for its Inaugural Social Accountability Fellowship.
The Six month fellowship commenced with a two-day virtual training on March 19 and 20 to empower journalists who are full-time employees of reputable media organisations on the skills needed for social accountability reporting at the sub-national level.
The fellows include Kafilat Taiwo from Dataphyte, Bakare Majeed and Mariam Ileyemi from PREMIUM TIMES, Marie-Therese Nanlong from Vanguard, Azubuike Chimaobi from PUNCH, Francis Ntow from Ghana News Agency, Gbenga Salau and Charles Akpeji from The Guardian Newspaper, Shafa’atu Suleiman from Daily Times, Angela Nkwo-Akpolu from Leadership Newspaper, and Azubuike Chimaobi from PUNCH.
Others are Godwin Agwam and Chenemi Bamaiyi, the TVC news, Ekemini Simon from The Mail, Okediran Adeyemi from BONews Abdulwasiu Olokooba from Sahara Reporters, Abubakar Kankara from Daily Episode and Muhasa TV/Radio, Azeez Jaji from TheInformant247, Adediran Adeleke from New Telegraph, Yahuza Bawage from Prime Progress and Manasseh Mbachii from Middlebelt Reporters.
According to the UDEME Project Manager, Ijeoma Okereke-Adagba, the 2024 accountability is a maiden fellowship designed to equip journalists with the skills and tools needed for accountability reporting to enable them to identify the irregularities in the procurement process, especially at the sub-national level.
“This is the first cohort of the Social Accountability Fellowship for African journalists. its purpose is to build the capacity of journalists with the needed skills in accountability reporting, especially at the sub-national level. This year’s focus will be on agriculture, health, education, and public infrastructure, emphasising gender inclusion,” she noted.
In his open remark, The PREMIUM TIMES’ Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of CJID, Dapo Olorunyomi, urged the fellows to uphold the ethics of journalism based on accuracy, truthfulness, perseverance and public interest.
Mr Olorunyomi stressed the importance of accountability journalism in a democracy, citing sections 22 and 162(5) of Nigeria and Ghana’s constitutions, respectively.
Also, the Executive Director, Mr. Tobi Oloruntola admonished the fellows on why it is important to stay committed during and after the fellowship.
A representative from the Plans and Projects Department of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Kenneth Kwujeli, guided the fellows through formulating and preparing a budget.
Mr.Kwujeli noted that the budget formulation process engenders discipline and enhances transparency, adding that efforts are required to address some budget concerns likely to encourage impunity and corruption.
He also gave an overview of the Nigeria Agenda (NA) 2050, which he said is aimed at positioning Nigeria as an African regional power and global economic force. He said the plan envisages a GDP of US$11.7 trillion with an average annual GDP growth rate of 7 per cent and a per capita income of $33,328.02
Mr Kwujeli highlighted the roles of CSOs and media to push for accountability and to collaborate to monitor the government’s implementation of the NA 2050.
The workshop also had CJID’s Director of Programmes, Akintunde Babatunde; Assistant Managing Editor at PREMIUM TIMES, Bisi Abidoye, and Dubawa’s Editor, Kemi Busari who took the fellows through the process of generating ideas from Data; investigative reporting and telling impactful stories.