To equip journalists on the use of Freedom of Information Act (FOI) for investigative reporting of campaign finance and covid-19 accountability, the International Press Center said it would train selected journalists.
The training slated for August 5 and 6 in Lagos would be organized in partnership with Media Rights Agenda (MRA), and is part of activities under Component 4b: Support to the media of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Project.
Participants at the workshop are investigative reporters, political reporters, state house correspondents and editors drawn from the public and private print, broadcast and online media in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Edo States.
According to a statement by the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, the workshop seeks to sharpen the investigative skills of participants to be effective users of the Freedom of Information Act as a tool to facilitate transparent, free, fair and credible elections and ensuring accountability of COVID 19 funds.
According to him, the workshop will feature presentations on Understanding and Reporting Campaign Finance and Political Expenditure Frameworks and Issues, by Mr. Jide Ojo , Executive Director, OJA Development Consult; Using Investigative Reporting Techniques to Monitor Compliance with Campaign Finance and Political Expenditure Regulations by Ms. Tobore Ovuorie, Freelance Investigative Journalist and Deploying the FOI Act and Other Investigative Tools/Methodologies in Reporting Covid-19 Funds in the Public Interest by Mr. Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director, International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). Others are Understanding the Key Features of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 by Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) and The Role of the Media in Ensuring Good Governance and Government Accountability by Mr. Lanre Arogundade.
He noted that the outcome will engender interventions that will enable the journalists to fulfill the constitutional obligation of monitoring governance and holding the government accountable to the people.
