The two-day workshop was facilitated by Rasaq Ayinla, Esq., who serves as both the Regional Editor of Business Day Newspaper and the Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents Chapel, Ogun State.
The training held in Abeokuta, was designed to build the capacity of journalists in new media literacy, legal defence, and financial and economic reporting, with the goal of promoting ethical journalism and strengthening democratic governance in Nigeria.
In his welcome address , the Chairman of Correspondents Chapel Rasaq Ayinla expressed appreciation to the sponsor for considering the training, in view of the fact that journalism started in Nigeria, in Abeokuta.
He explained that the retreat became important having observed overtime that Journalists, especially those working at the outstations lack basic and required reporting skills for finance and economy, telecoms, mining, oil and gas, banking and insurance, law, public administration, community relations, aviation, motoring, among others
“We are therefore conducting this training for 100 Ogun State-based Journalists to close the perceived gap and of course, for the IHS Nigeria Limited to fraternise and share ideas with Journalists in Ogun State and beyond’, he added.
“It’s no doubt that Abeokuta leads in good and vibrant journalism and we must maintain the pace for good, unbiased and balanced reportage and newspapering, that is why among us today, we have Publishers and Editors of Newspapers, Magazine and Online News Platforms published and broadcast from Abeokuta as well as Correspondents, Press and Information Officers from the Federal, State and Local Government Ministries, Departments and Agency of Information and Orientation.
In his goodwill message , the Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on Media and Strategy Hon. Kayode Akinmade pointed out that the initiative is commendable meant to empower 100 journalists drawn from the print, broadcast, social media, information departments.
“This is about honing and sharpening work skills and instruments, including the mind and its intellectual repertoire, and it is crucially important. The stated objective of this retreat, which is to sharpen reportorial skills in the finance, economy, health, telecoms, mining, oil and gas, banking and insurance, law, governance and public administration and community relations, among others, is quite broad and probably looks daunting, but whichever way, this may easily be dissolved by the quality of resource persons billed to speak at this retreat’
He pointed out that the speakers are highly accomplished individuals who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields of operation and have no doubt that they will do justice to the various topics.
“As we are all aware, Media practitioners in Nigeria face daunting challenges, including those related to career development. Often, there are gaps in the areas of structured mentorship for young reporters, career planning and growth opportunities, digital skills and leadership development.
“And there are also issues with financial viability and sustainability, media regulations, especially in relation to new media threats, physical assaults and harassment of journalists on the field; limited protection for journalists, particularly during election coverages among others.
“While many of these challenges have to do with the government, media employers and the operating environment, others are in-house issues that can be well handled by media managers and organs such as the correspondents chapel.
Akinmade stated that occasions such as this, offer opportunities to reflect on the field of practice, share experience, acquire new skills, drop old, unsustainable habits, and essentially enter into a new world of possibilities.
“A correspondent who has just acquired new skills is still a correspondent, but his/her story won’t be the same as that of a professional, which has so much years on the job speaking for him/ her. The world is changing and we need to change with it. We all know that today, journalists and media organizations need to be technologically savvy and innovative to stay competitive. Part of the objectives of this retreat is to foster media innovation and creativity’.
Speaking during the opening session, Mrs. Yemisi Diya-Salawu, Director of Legal, IHS Nigeria, said the initiative reflects the company’s strong sustainability and societal impact agenda, which prioritizes investment in people, education, and community growth.
“It is an honour for us at IHS Nigeria to partner with the Ogun NUJ in this important initiative,” Diya-Salawu said. “We recognize the critical role journalists play in informing citizens, deepening democracy, and advancing national development. Building the capacity of media professionals is therefore a priority for us.”
She explained that IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of the IHS Towers Group, operates more than 16,000 towers and 15,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables across the country, positioning it as a key enabler of digital transformation and connectivity.
According to her, the company considers itself “Nigeria’s backbone of digital possibilities,” ensuring that infrastructure growth goes hand-in-hand with socio-economic progress achieved through responsible and sustainable practices.
“Beyond building sustainable, energy-efficient, and secure infrastructure, we are deeply committed to creating opportunities for people and communities to thrive—today and for generations to come,” she added.
Diya-Salawu noted that IHS Nigeria’s sustainability strategy is built on four key pillars — ethics and governance; environment and climate change; education and economic growth; and people and communities.
She also disclosed that the company recently unveiled its 2023–2024 Impact Report, showcasing several community-focused and sustainability projects executed nationwide, including those in Ogun State.
Diya-Salawu urged journalists to maximize the knowledge gained to improve their craft and to continue upholding the values of truth, fairness, and integrity.
“We hope this training inspires every participant to aim higher, tell stories that matter, and continue being the conscience of our society,” she said.