IHS trains 100 journalists in ethics, digital reporting

IHS Nigeria, a subsidiary of the IHS Towers group, one of the largest independent owners, operators, and developers of shared communications infrastructure in the world, has sponsored the training of 100 journalists working across various platforms in Ogun State.

Speaking during the two-day extensive workshop held in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Director of Legal, IHS, Yemisi Diya-Salawu, said that the company, which is operating over 16,000 towers and over 15,000 km of fibre optic cables across the country, decided to shoulder the training to enhance professionalism and excellence in media practice in the country.

Diya-Salawu explained that though the company holds strongly that connectivity is a catalyst for socio-economic growth, it must be pursued hand in hand with sustainability and social responsibility; hence, the decision to partner with the Correspondents’ Chapel of Ogun NUJ to upskill the journalists in the state.

She disclosed that this is embedded within the company’s corporate values, and it is reflected in every facet of its operations, from powering tower sites sustainably to nurturing the communities that they serve and promoting sound ethical practices throughout their operations.

Diya-Salawu added that beyond building sustainable, energy-efficient, and secure infrastructure solutions, IHS is also very committed to creating conditions for people and communities to thrive today and for generations to come.

She added that “It is this strong societal impact strategy that has informed our sponsorship of this training today.

“As a company we recognise the critical role the media plays in society, especially in keeping the citizens informed, deepening democracy and developing all facets of our national life.

“Building the capacity of journalists is thus an important activity in advancing society as a whole.

“The topics that have been planned for this two-day training which cover understanding and use of new media, legal defence for journalists and financial & economic reporting are very topical and the impressive list of resource persons to lead the conversations gives us confidence that this will be a worthwhile activity for you.

“We hope that this training motivates you, journalists working in Ogun State, to become even more professional in your work, aim for excellence and find fulfilment in it as well.”

The Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr Tokunbo Talabi, represented at the event by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to Gov. Dapo Abiodun, Mr Kayode Akinmade, also hailed the training programme, describing it as a veritable platform for the journalists in the state to update their skills.

Talabi said that “occasions such as this offer opportunities to reflect on the field of practice, share experiences, acquire new skills, drop old, unsustainable habits, and essentially enter into a new world of possibilities”.

The SSG said that the world is no doubt changing, and as such journalists and media organisations need to be technologically savvy and innovative to stay competitive, saying that he was glad that part of the objectives of the retreat was to foster media innovation and creativity.

He said that the government of Dapo Abiodun is always willing to partner with the media to drive development across the state.

In his welcome address, Rasaq Ayinla, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, said that journalism contends with numerous challenges, including gaps in structured mentorship for young reporters, career planning and growth opportunities, digital literacy, and leadership development, among others.

Ayinla, however, believed that with the support of organisations like IHS Nigeria Limited, these challenges can be overcome while achieving and promoting excellence in journalism and media practice.

Professor of Broadcast Journalism and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, represented by Dr Jamiu Folarin from Crescent University, Abeokuta, as well as Mr Lekan Otunfodunrin, former Editor with The Nation Newspapers, among others, were on hand to sharpen the skills of the participants and put them in good stead for a more rewarding career.