Humint Development Consult Limited and Daria Media Nigeria Limited have jointly trained journalists in Sokoto State on professional competence in the practice of journalism in Nigeria.
The training, with a theme: “Capacity Building for Professional competence in the practice of journalism in Nigeria,” had participants from various media outfits in the state.
Addressing the trainees, the state Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Sambo Danchadi, appreciated the organisers of the event, assuring them that the state government will continue to train and retrain working journalists towards ensuring professionalism in the field.
“The training has come at the right time when the state government, led by Dr Ahmed Aliyu, is exploring the necessary steps towards media reform to ensure professionalism in practice.
“I hope that the participants will generously utilise the opportunity to gain more skills and knowledge towards improving their reportage to global accepted standard,” he said.
The commissioner further extolled the organisers for their foresight in choosing the right resource persons, adding that, “they are seasoned academics and veteran journalists with vast knowledge and experience.”
The two-day training workshop started on Tuesday, with Danchadi declaring it open.
In his remarks, the Director, Humint Development Consult, Dr Abubakar Mohammed, said the training was designed to improve the standard of the profession of journalism in Nigeria as well as nation building.
“Inculcate the professional ethics, use of appropriate language, history of the profession and familiarise with some of the legal provisions that affect the operation of Journalists,” he said, adding that “Our aim is to contribute towards building professional competence in the practice of journalism among the working journalists.
Mohammed appreciated the resource persons and participants for accepting to be part of the event, describing, it as “a great event in the history of journalism in the state.”
Earlier, the State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Malam Dalhatu Abdullahi, said the training would help in addressing the enormous challenge of lack of adequate training to media employees by employers.
“This capacity building for working journalists is coming at the right time and the topics to be discussed are very critical to the profession.
“I believe that the participants should consider themselves as great achievers for being part of it,” he said.
Those who presented papers at the event included Dr Buhari Kware of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto and Mohammed Umar, a former NUJ Chairman in the state.
Others were: Dr Danladi Bako, former Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and Prof. Gausu Ahmad of the Faculty of Mass Communications, Bayero University Kano (BUK).
It is expected that, at the end of the training, participants would be exposed to investigative journalism and its contribution to national development in Nigeria.
