Akwa Ibom Journalists Shortlisted for Investigative Training
Three journalists in Akwa Ibom State have been shortlisted for investigative journalism training by the International Center for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Abuja.
The journalists are Ekemini Simon of The Mail Newspaper, Edidiong Udobia, Weekly Insight, and Dianime Uko, Inspiration FM.
The three, according to an announcement posted on the ICIR website on Thursday, are among 108 journalists picked across Nigeria for the training.
The ICIR said the training “is aimed at building capacity for Nigerian journalists to investigate and write about budgetary and procurement issues, with a view to promoting accountability and transparency in the public sector”.
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“The project, funded by a two-year grant from the MacArthur Foundation, is part of its On Nigeria Project, which seeks to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led efforts that strengthen accountability, transparency, and civic participation.
“The qualified journalists will participate in two intensive training programmes over a two-year period that will be delivered by professionals from within and outside Nigeria.
“The training programmes for 2020, six in all, the first of which would be held in April, are scheduled to hold in different zones of the country.
“The ICIR would provide financial support to the journalists to undertake investigative reporting projects on budget, procurement and contracting processes in critical sectors of the economy, including Power and electricity, Education, Water and the Environment and Health,” the ICIR said.
It could be recalled that the Amos Etuk-led administration of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, constituted NUJ Research and Documentation Committee tasked with the responsibility to look out for training and employment opportunities for the benefit of journalists in the State.
Mr Simon and Mr Udobia applied for the training through information made available by the NUJ Committee.
