By Hannah Ojo
The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), Abuja has held the second phase of its investigative reporting training on corruption in the security sector. The week-long training which commenced on Monday 14th of March 2016 was held in Abuja.
The training is part of activities under the Access Nigeria Project organized by the Institute in partnership with Partners for Democratic Change (PDC), ClEEN Foundation, BudgeIT, Public and Private Democratic Centre and Centre for Democracy and Development.
The programme officer of the Institute, Mr Temitope Shaba informed participants that like the first round of the exercise held last year, journalists in the investigative reporting programme will have support from an investigative reporting innovation fund to pursue investigative stories on the security sector.
A month paid fellowship with partner organizations for three outstanding participants was promised.
Shaba disclosed that the programme had initially planned to take in new set of journalists for the second round of training, but after careful deliberations, it was decided that the same set of journalists should be kept while the curriculum is reviewed with injection of new topics to deliver fresh experience for trainees.
Mr Dayo Ayeitan, the Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Abuja who was the lead trainer took the reporters on topics including investigating corruption in Nigeria using online resources and databases, writing successful story pitches, tips on security for journalists and undercover reporting.
Mr Muskilu Mojeed, Managing Editor with Premium Times also shared practical examples on Model Stories and how journalists can pursue them. He also led other sessions on Budget tracking investigations and providing links on useful online tools that can be used to investigate corruption in the security sector.
Others facilitators include Ms Nkemdili Ilo who anchored a session on Procurement Tracking, while Mr Tobi Soniyi, a lawyer and senior journalist with ThisDay newspaper gave insights on legal loophole in investigative reporting.
Maj-Gen (RT) Ishola Williams delivered a paper on Investigating Security Sector Financing while Mr Joshua Olufemi, a seasoned data journalist and Mr Peter Nkanga of the Committee for Protection of Journalists in West Africa spoke on Model Data journalism stories and Digital Security for Journalists.
The 11 participants who also engaged in field work within the Abuja metropolis were drawn from various news platforms covering the print, online, TV and radio medium.
The training, it was learnt was conceived to improve the media’s capacity to produce investigative reports regarding corruption in the security sector of the country.
