Airtel Empowers Journalists, Takes Multimedia Journalism Clinic to Enugu

Airtel Empowers Journalists, Takes Multimedia Journalism Clinic to Enugu

As parts of efforts to improve the practice of journalism in the country, Airtel Nigeria, one of the leading telecommunications providers, will be organising a one-week multimedia training journalism clinic in Enugu State aimed at building the capacity of journalists in the use of social media to improve news reporting.  

 

The clinic which is facilitated by an international digital media expert, Dan Mason and founder of the clinic, Taiwo Obe, is a four-city-four-week training and road show, which was earlier hosted in Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja from August 3 to 14.

 

Speaking on the training, the Director of Corporate Communication, Airtel, Emeka Oparah, said Airtel is committed to creating exceptional platforms and opportunities for journalists, stating that the company is interested in developing the media industry and is partnering with key stakeholders in the development of the industry.

 

He also stated that: “One of our core values, at Airtel, is inclusivity. We believe in touching the lives of members of the communities we operate in.  And we will continue to provide the relevant platforms for all our critical stakeholders to succeed. 

 

“The Airtel multimedia journalism training, aided by the clinic, would train 100 Nigerian journalists across four regions. While the Enugu training would be attended by 25 journalists selected from media platforms across the South-south and South east zones.

“The programme has drawn commendations from people in the media circle who described the initiative as a laudable project that is playing a huge role in the growth and development of the media in Nigeria,” he stated.

One of the journalists who participated in the Lagos clinic, Sunday Okobi, a journalist with THISDAY newspapers said: “I have always had great admiration for the work Airtel does. This good corporate citizen has given me the opportunity not only to improve on my professional skills, but also to develop myself,” he said.

Also speaking, another participant from the Lagos clinic, Uche Akaolisa, a journalist with Hallmark newspaper expressed her excitement for the training programme, noting that: “Airtel is giving me the opportunity to be social media savvy. With this knowledge I will be able to respond effectively to the demand for online content.”

“Airtel Nigeria is giving me the opportunity to be social media savvy. With this knowledge I will be able to respond effectively to the demand for online content,” said a delighted Akaolisa.

The Airtel multimedia training is exposing select participating journalists from across Nigeria to tools and techniques to make their content more compelling to the vast audiences who now, more than ever before, consume news and other content on digital platforms.