By Tina George, Minna
The Executive Director of the Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ), Dapo Olorunyomi has called on Journalists across the nation, to report the natural resources and extractive sector more frequently and professionally.
He made the call during a three-day virtual training, organized by the Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism, PTCIJ, under its Natural Resources and Extractive Programme.
While observing that the natural resources and extractive sector were not getting the required reportage like other sectors, doing so would make Nigeria to achieve its goal of having a diversified economy.
One of the resource persons, Dr Dieter Bassi, who is the Director (Technical) of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), called for the need on more focus on the mining sector as a lot of happenings are going on in this sector that needs to be brought to fore.
“There is a need for more focus on the value chain in the mining sector. Look beyond the surface. Who are those involved in this area? Are the licences given used legally? What about the regulation of artisan miners? Who is regulating them? What is going on around them? There is a need for such reportage.”
In his address, the Manager of the Natural Resources and Extractive Programme, Akintunde Babatunde said the programme was to equip Journalists to write in-depth reports on the natural resources and extractive programme.
“The training is an opportunity for journalists to improve the reporting of the sector by submitting story ideas they intend to execute while PTCIJ will support them with small grants, data and other resources to ensure the successful execution of story ideas in the sector.”
He added that as a follow-up to the training, PTCIJ will prepare a policy brief, which will speak to the findings of the respective journalists, as well as provide policy recommendations to drive development within the Natural Resources and Extractives sector.
Thirty-two Journalists from online, print and electronic media across diverse newsrooms in Nigeria, participated in the three-day virtual training.
