Experts at the two-day journalism training organised by the Lagos-based International Press Centre, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, enjoin stakeholders to be transparent and accountable while discharging their duties in the coming 2019 general elections

By Benprince Ezeh

AS the 2019 general elections draws closer, stakeholders have been urged to take accountability and transparency as watchword towards enhancing adequate and smooth delivery of their duties before, during and after the election. The advice was given at a two-day workshop for political correspondents which was organised by the International Press Centre, IPC in partnership with EU-Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EU-SDGN.

Speaking to journalists at the training, Jide Ojo, a development consultant, who identified electoral stakeholders as political parties, media, civil society organisations and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the electoral umpire, maintained that these groups have a huge role to play and know the election phases; pre, during and post-election period.

According to Ojo after highlighting various transparency and accountability challenges that the electoral stakeholders could face, proffered solutions on how the issues could be addressed to enhance electoral integrity.

“Attitudinal change, Better Legislations, Voter Education Enforcement of extant regulations, strict adherence to core values on election reporting, professionalism and capacity building would go a long way in addressing the identified accountability and transparency issues.”

Taiwo Obe, the founder, Journalists Clinic, taught participants on usage of digital tools and applications in covering elections.

Obe, urged journalists to be tech savvy and utilise the use of digital tools and applications in their reportage as they cover the 2019 elections.

Participants at the training were awed for being opportune to be a part of the training which they describe as enlightening.

Tobi Joseph, a journalist with the Rock City fm Abeokuta, stated that the training would go a long way in contributing to a rich and good reportage of the general elections in 2019 and beyond.

Yemisi Dada, governor’s office correspondent at the Radio One 103.5 Lagos, who said the workshop was a great avenue for journalists to expand their knowledge on political reporting, added: “It’s an expository one, very engaging and intriguing, especially in the use of Social Media to disseminate useful and factual information to the people with a view to holding government and other relevant stakeholders accountable to the people.

“The knowledge gained will be shared among my colleagues in the office for improved productivity with a view to bringing about change in the country.

“The knowledge I have garnered from this workshop will have a great positive impact in my reportage of the 2019 elections and subsequent ones.”

Also, Temitope Musowo, political correspondent with The Blueprint Newspaper, while speaking about his experience at the workshop said that the training about digital journalism and use of applications will give him and others an edge, especially in modern practice and new dynamics of the job.

“The training was timely especially as we prepare for the 2019 elections, it was equally resourceful, the facilitators are authority in the field and they delivered with simplicity and precision,” Musowo added.

In his closing remark, Lanre Arogundade, director International Press Centre, IPC, Lagos, urged participants to utilise the knowledge gained from the training to improve on their reportage not only for their media organisations  but to make a global change.

– Nov. 5, 2018 @ 13:15 GMT |