Human Rights Humanitarian NEWS Social Development

ActionAid trains Nigerian journalists on fight against social injustice, poverty

ByDotun Roy

Oct 12, 2018 ,

Twenty-nine Nigerian journalists have been trained by ActionAid Nigeria on how to help in the fight against corruption, social injustice, and poverty in the country.

The journalists, drawn from different media organisations across Nigeria, converged in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for the two-day training, which ended on Wednesday.

ActionAid and its partners – Journalists Against Poverty (JAP) and Upright For Nigeria, took the journalists through the depth of damage corruption, social injustice, and poverty have done to the country and its citizens, and why the media should lead the campaign against the vices.

Funmilayo Oyefusi, the director, Organisational Effectiveness, ActionAid Nigeria, told participants that Nigeria has lost so much, because of corruption.

She appealed to journalists to ask questions and do stories that would ensure that money meant for development is actually used for such purpose.

“If you take the North-east of the country, for instance, the people affected by the insurgency would have been settled in their homes by now, with the amount of money that has gotten into the area,” Mrs Oyefusi said, adding that ActionAid was committed to helping build the capacity of the media in Nigeria.’

“You are the voice of the voiceless people in the communities. We want you to create the picture of the real situation on ground in the communities.

“Use your investigative skills to tell the development needs of the people, as well as those things that are acting as obstacles to development.

“Let’s write compelling stories that will get people to think about social justice and how to end poverty in Nigeria,” she said.

The resource persons in the training included Ibanga Isine, an award-winning journalist and a visiting journalism teacher at the American University of Nigeria, Yola; Wale Elekolusi, the coordinator, Journalists Against Poverty; and Newton Otsemaye, the project manager, SCRAP-C, a project of ActionAid Nigeria.

“Journalists are the most powerful and most feared professionals, and yet only very few of them appeared willing and ready to use the profession to change things in this country,” Mr Isine said, while taking the participants on how they, as journalists, can lead the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Mr Otsemaye said it is unfortunate that Nigerians have abandoned the naming and shaming approach to corruption, and are now celebrating corrupt individuals.

“Nigeria is a place where someone serves jail term, and as soon as he is released from jail, he is being celebrated as he steps out of the prison’s gate. He gets to the church on Sunday for a thanksgiving where he gives a testimony that his enemies wanted him dead, but that God saved him. The pastor will shout ‘praise the Lord’ and the congregation will answer ‘Amen’,” Mr Otsemaye said.

“Nigeria is the only country were public funds are shared in the house of politicians and people appear to see nothing wrong with this.

“If you are celebrating corrupt leaders, you are as guilty as those who steal public funds,” he said.

Mr Elekolusi said the goal of Journalists Against Poverty is to help in the reduction of poverty in Nigeria by amplifying the voice of the underprivileged people in communities across the country.

He said his organisation was prepared to mobilise journalists for the task ahead.

“Journalists must not stop at just reporting poverty; they must step in to become advocates against poverty,” he said.

A social network was created at the end of the training for easy coordination and collaboration among journalists willing to become advocates against corruption, social injustice, and poverty.

One of the participants, Dotun Roy, commended ActionAid and its partners for the training which he said was timely. “We now feel better equipped for the job,” he said.

By Dotun Roy

DotunRoy.com is a development driven news website with the overall goal of amplifying, promoting and advocating for positive societal change through Sustainable Development advocacy in line with UN SDGs components such as education, environmental sustainability and Climate Change, Human Rights, health, finance, housing, good governance as well as security in Nigeria and across the world.

Related Post

Human Rights NEWS

“My Travails in the Hands of Magu” – Another EFCC Director shares horrific ordeals during Magu’s reign in office

J Jul, 2020 Dotun Roy
FINANCE NEWS

‘Nigeria’s public debt hits N28.63trillion in 2020’ – NBS

J Jul, 2020 Dotun Roy
Human Rights NEWS

#DigitalEconomy: NCC re-strategises, creates New Department to expedite FG’s Agenda

J Jul, 2020 Dotun Roy
1,110 thought on “ActionAid trains Nigerian journalists on fight against social injustice, poverty”

  13. Howdy! This is my 1st comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and tell you I genuinely enjoy reading your blog posts.
    Can you recommend any other blogs/websites/forums
    that cover the same topics? Thanks!

  15. Hello! This is my first visit to your blog!
    We are a collection of volunteers and starting a
    new project in a community in the same niche.
    Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a extraordinary job!

  19. ZFN Liker, autoliker, Autolike, auto liker, Photo Auto Liker, Increase Likes, Auto Like, Status Auto Liker, autolike, auto like, Photo Liker, Autolike International, Auto Liker, Working Auto Liker, Autoliker, Autoliker, Status Liker

  22. We are a gaggle of volunteers and opening a
    new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with useful info to work on. You’ve done a formidable process and our entire community
    will probably be thankful to you.

  24. The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my iPad and tested
    to see if it can survive a thirty foot drop,
    just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now broken and she has 83 views.

    I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  28. Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this blog.

    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very hard
    to get that “perfect balance” between user friendliness and appearance.
    I must say you have done a fantastic job with this.
    Additionally, the blog loads super fast for me on Opera.
    Excellent Blog!

  30. Efectos Viagra Jovenes Does Amoxicillin Cause Headaches How Much Amoxicillin For Bronchitis Forum Baclofene Boulimie Generic Dutasteride Internet Visa Cod Without Dr Approval Best Online Site For Genuine Cialis

  151. [url=http://tadalafil.rodeo/]tadalafil prescription[/url] [url=http://1stazithromycinnow.com/]azithromycin[/url] [url=http://motilium.us.org/]motilium tabs[/url] [url=http://buylexapro.us.org/]buy lexapro[/url] [url=http://buytetracycline.team/]tethratycline[/url] [url=http://levitra.surf/]levitra 10 mg price[/url] [url=http://vermox.team/]vermox plus[/url] [url=http://1stindocinnow.com/]indocin sr 75 mg[/url] [url=http://prednisone.yoga/]prednisone[/url] [url=http://sildenafil.best/]sildenafil generic canada[/url] [url=http://azithromycin250mg.us.com/]azithromycin canada[/url] [url=http://prednisone.surf/]prednisone[/url] [url=http://buytrazodone.company/]trazodone[/url] [url=http://buybaclofen.company/]buy baclofen[/url] [url=http://1stfurosemidenow.com/]furosemide[/url] [url=http://buyalbuterol.company/]albuterol[/url] [url=http://augmentin.team/]buy augmentin[/url]

  341. Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this website.
    It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between usability and
    visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a great job with this.
    In addition, the blog loads super fast for me on Safari.
    Exceptional Blog!

  594. I am not positive the place you’re getting your information, however good topic.
    I must spend a while studying much more or working out more.
    Thanks for great information I was on the lookout for this info for my mission. pof natalielise

  722. Simply want to say your article is as surprising. The clarity for your
    publish is simply nice and that i could think you are an expert in this subject.
    Fine with your permission allow me to snatch your RSS feed to keep updated with approaching post.
    Thanks one million and please carry on the gratifying work.