In a bid to transform how climate change is covered in the media, a consortium of Nigerian organizations has trained journalists to focus on its real-world impacts on livelihoods, health, and governance.
Held in Abuja, the workshops gathered reporters from radio, TV, print, and online platforms. Participants honed skills in solutions-oriented storytelling, ethical reporting, and framing climate issues through governance and accountability lenses.
Led by Goldapples Media Associates in partnership with Climate Africa Media Initiative and Centre (CAMIC) and African Newspage, the initiative emphasized connecting environmental challenges to everyday Nigerian experiences, such as food security, jobs, and public services.
CEO of Goldapples and consortium lead, Ayo Makinde highlighted the need to treat climate stories as human issues shaped by policy decisions, boosting public understanding and institutional accountability.
Facilitators included Aliu Akoshile, CAMIC’s executive director, who linked climate science, finance, and justice to local development; while Adam Alqali, editor-in-chief of African Newspage, who shared techniques for highlighting reforms without advocacy.
A practical highlight was the Climate Explainer Toolkit, introduced by Helen Bassey Osijo of CAMIC, designed to simplify complex topics for newsrooms.
Supported by the UK-funded Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), the program aims to amplify citizen voices in climate discussions.
Enene Ejembi, PACE media advisor, stressed people-centered reporting adding that PACE collaborates with government and society to address governance and climate hurdles, fostering prosperity.
She urged journalists to spotlight opportunities in climate finance for attracting investments and creating jobs, always prioritizing national development.
Attendees reported boosted confidence in linking policy to human stories, with the consortium pledging ongoing support for deeper climate journalism in Nigeria.
