By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
Bayelsa-based journalists, numbering over seventy and drawn from the print, electronic and online media, have expressed appreciation and commendation over the recent training held in Yenagoa, aimed at equipping journalists on their reportage of the up coming November 11, 2023 governorship election.
They further requested for more of such trainings and implored other organizations to extend similar workshops to Bayelsa journalists who are yearning for improved and enhanced professionalism.
One of the participants, Amos Okioma, of Daily Times, said the three-day training was unprecedented and nonpareil, as the various resource persons enriched their knowledge and professionalism, especially with regards to the next governorship election.
Also, Alaowei of the Environment Watch Newspapers said he looked forward to more impactful brainstorming workshops that will add more knowledge to his pool and further enrich his grasp of journalism profession, which will make him practice more effectively.
Others who lauded IPC – CEMESO and urged for more of such workshops were Victor Christopher of Niger Delta New link, Ebiowe Lawal of Tribune Newspaper, Bassey Williams of Daily Trust, Samuel Ese (BusinessDay), Eunice Nnachi of Nigerian Pilot and Agadaga Idhiba of Atlantic Express Newspapers, Emem Idio of Vanguard Newspapers, Janet Tuomute of the Niger Delta Television, Favour Kei of NewWaves, Aqua Douye Akrurunku of Royal FM, Igonikon Oduma of Daily Independent, Nathan Nwankama of News Agency of Nigeria among others.
In his remarks, the executive director of International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade stated that the IPC believes that the media has an important role to play in ensuring that the citizens have credible information about the forthcoming election in Bayelsa State.
He said, “the citizens make their choices on the basis of reliable information. But it is the journalists that work in the media houses. We need to organize those journalists to look at different aspects of responsibility in the electoral process.
“We are interested in the issue of people who are generally unrepresented in the society, who don’t have any voice, the women, the young people. That is why we talk about inclusivity. We feel that if journalists understand all these things, then they will be in position to go out there to do stories that will be in the public interest.
“We are interested in knowing what the politicians want to do. But we are more interested in journalists bringing to the attention of the politicians what the people really want them to do for them if they get elected. So that is the essence of the workshop,” he said.
