From Tony Osauzo, Benin
In order to achieve greater accountability by state governments, experts in forensic auditing, public finance and accounting are joining top media professionals to train journalists to report audits in Nigeria.
Mr Chido Nwakanma, Training Coordinator for the FrontFoot Media Initiative, the organiser of the workshop, stated that the training would start in Benin today (Wednesday) with a two-day session for journalists in Edo and Delta States.
“Fifty journalists will participate in the introductory Audit Reporting Training workshops in the Edo State capital from Oct 5 to 6, and in Awka from Oct 17 to 18.
“They are the precursors to similar events planned for 2023 and 2024 in other parts of the country.
“The Benin City event will attract journalists from Edo and Delta States while Awka will host invited journalists from Anambra and Enugu States.
“At the two-day workshops, journalists will learn to mine state government audit reports for stories that will boost transparency and accountability in Nigeria.
“Each workshop will feature between 20 and 30 participants drawn from print, broadcast, and online media platforms,” Nwakanma said in a press statement.
He explained that the workshop was part of the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability Project (C-Media) project of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism being sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation.
The FrontFoot official described audit reporting as central to promoting transparency and accountability in governance, critical levers to pull Nigeria out of the quagmire of corruption, poverty, and under-development.
Nwakama stated that FrontFoot Media Initiative, a non-profit, civil society organisation was established to advance democracy and development in Nigeria and the African continent by enhancing the quality of journalism.